Orioles urged to cut ties with $42 million All-Star before Opening Day
Orioles urged to cut ties with $42 million All-Star before Opening Day | Sporting News
Braves urged to cut ties with $42 million All-Star before Opening Day image
The Atlanta Braves fell short of expectations in 2024. They were swept by the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card. They could look to make significant changes before Opening Day in 2025.
While listing Braves players who should be gone before next season, FanSided’s Zach Pressnell urged the team to move on from Jorge Soler in a trade.
“The Atlanta Braves went out and acquired Jorge Soler as a short term fix to one of their holes in 2024,” wrote Pressnell. “But keeping Soler on the roster isn’t sustainable for more than just the back half of last year and it’s not because Soler wasn’t good enough. In fact, offensively, he was great for the Braves.”
Soler filled a need for the Braves offensively, but defensively he struggled. With injuries to Micahel Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. Soler provided much-needed production at the plate from outfielders. The Braves cannot afford to play him defensively all year and they already have Marcell Ozuna penciled into the DH position.
“Soler was horrific on defense last season. According to Baseball Savant, he was worth -7 FRV and -7 OAA, both in the bottom 20 percent of the league, though he didn’t play defense in enough games to even qualify, meaning if he had a full season of defense, his numbers would be even worse,” wrote Pressnell.
Soler has already etched his name in Braves history. He was the World Series Most Valuable Player in 2021. He was an All-Star in 2023. He signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the San Francisco Giants before the 2024 season. The Braves cannot pay him what he’s due and justify not playing him every day.
