Giants beat writer Susan Slusser broke the news that they reached an agreement to sign DH/OF Jorge Soler to a 3 year contract. Terms of the agreement are not yet known but the Giants were reportedly in talks with Soler for over 1 week but were balking at the third guaranteed year.
Soler is a veteran power hitter of the type the Giants sorely lacked for the past several years. He hit 36 HR's for the Marlins last year and 48 for the Royals in 2019. He's averaged 27 HR/162 games over his career but is oft injured with only three seasons above 500 PA's. He also tends to be streaky within healthy seasons but can carry a team for weeks when hot at the plate. His K rate ranges from 25-35% but he has also maintained a walk rate above 10% his entire career. Early in his career he hit the ball incredibly hard but not always with enough loft to get it out of the park. Obviously he must have addressed that if he hit 48 in one season. Neither the Royals ballpark nor the Marlins are particularly hitter-friendly and Oracle Park has more carry to LF than R so we probably don't have to discount his historical stats for the ballpark.
Dedicated DH was one of the Giants Hot Stove League needs. I thought a LH DH would be a better fit, but Soler hit 22 of his 36 HR against RHP's last year and he certainly mashes lefties so it seems like he gives the Giants the best of both worlds if they can just pencil his name in the lineup at DH for 162 games. Manager Bob Melvin is more likely to do just that than his predecessor.
Soler turns 32 yo in less than 1 month so the Giants are buying his age 32-34 seasons.
Jorge Soler DH/OF. DOB: 2/25/1992. B-R, T-R. 6'4", 235 lbs.
Great move.
ReplyDeleteNow get Montgomery, and/or see if Mr Snell is coming to his senses.
I am fine with this, even the 3rd year which was the sticking point for many teams.. Gives the team a Power bat..Full time DH against LHP and RHP..Over the last hree years, 27, 26 (prorated--was injured in 2022) and 37 last year). Only caveat is injuries in two of the last four years. Keep the fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteWould think this means a NO on Mark Chapman because with SOLER as a FULL-TIME DH, that means there would be no room for JD DAVIS anywhere if CHapman was signed...well, unless he's dealt, which could happen.
I like the bat signing, but still think a signing of SNELL or MONTGOMERY was/is more important, but I guess FZ is gonna roll the dice on all the injured, inexperienced and newly converted starters..very risky...As is the LH RP with only the proven Rogers..Don't feel very confident about GARRET, SMART or Eric MILLER but hope at least one cn be successful (Miller???)..
Also, do the Giants still try to sign a Utility IF for help at 3B and SS (especially s insurance for LUCIANO) or do they go with the likes of SCHMIDT?
FZ still has work to do...
Steve VA
Agree the Giants need at least one more proven SP. Snell seems like a perfect fit for both sides if they can just agree on a price point.
DeleteThree-year, $42-million deal won't hurt the Giants in the out year that they were resisting. By then they only have $48M committed (for Webb and Ray) plus whatever they will need for Snell-Montgomery-???
ReplyDeleteBoras loses a suitor for Martinez — maybe it doesn't matter to him but the Giants could have outbid anyone for if they wanted to.
SF probably will have to come to Him for the pitcher of choice and they will pay dearly. Montgomery isn't Snell in ceiling but he is much more consistent. If Cobb and Ray finish strong, the Giants will have 4 quality SP's plus Harrison. Or Winn. Or a few others...
I like the Soler signing, he just might be the first Giant to hit 30+ HRs since Bonds in a season. What does this mean for Conforto though? My guess is we try to move him now. I’d rather prioritize Lee, Yaz, and Matos over him as starters with Slater coming in against LHPs.
ReplyDeleteA healthy Conforto is a near-monster against RHP.
DeleteMatos in a fairly SSS was not effective against RHP. He hit 1 HR against righties in 154 PAs. He's just 22 yo, let him succeed where he can.
Much as I'd like to move Conforto, they're getting a bit short on LF bats. I had half expected a Belt signing for DH and, while I'm fine with Soler, that leaves only Lee, Yaz, Wade, and Bailey as LH in against RH pitching. Lee has never faced MLB pitching, Yaz and Wade are often injured, and Bailey has to have limited ABs. Is that enough?
DeleteNot a huge fan of this deal. 3 years for a DH who isn’t a superstar seems like a steep price. DHs are like relievers they are fungible.
ReplyDelete- Fan
"DH's are like relievers they are fungible". This is demonstrably not true. 13 teams got less than replacement level production from the DH spot last season.
DeleteGood point Doc. That surprises me.
DeleteI don't mind this pick up of Soler, but lets not forget that 2019 was one of the more egregious "juiced ball" years. A lot of guy's career high in homers came in 2019. I don't think he'll pop 40+ ding dongs again, but anything over 30 makes this a valuable pick up in my opinion, and odds seems strong that that can happen.
ReplyDeleteEvery media discussion of the Giants lineup after SOLER has FLores at 3B and Davis not in the lineup..Do we see that? With Davis being the better defensive player (but no Chapman)? Either way, when haelthy, guys will be competing for ABs!
ReplyDeleteSteveVA
I would think Flores will be the RH platoon partner at 1B and a RH PH off the bench. If both Flores and Davis are on the roster, Davis should be the everyday 3B.
DeleteWe needed some pop in the lineup and Soler has plenty. Don’t care if he strikes out a ton we can have one of those in our lineup if he mashes. Having an anchor like him batting 4th will help others bat where they should instead of trying to force someone into the cleanup spot. Good move and that’s coming from the Pessimist!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that the Giants finally added a worthwhile signing with lots of upside. as one of the posts above mentions, Soler's season hinges on whether he can stay healthy. As a DH, I would think that would be more likely than putting him in OF.
ReplyDeleteGoogle "jorge soler muscles" and you'll see the source of a lot of his injuries: the man is ALL MUSCLE!
ReplyDeleteImagine Soler waiting 3 innings, hitting a bullet to deep SS, and running hard to 1B because the tying run is on 3rd and there are 2 outs in the 9th inning. Sense a pulled muscle?
You can also Google "jorge soler injuries" and you'll see obliques, hips, backs, pelvis, groin, etc.
And then you can Google "jorge soler sued by fan" and you will find (1) another reason for the screens being installed to protect fans and (2) what a nation of litigants we've become.
There is hope for run scoring! Who will slot in at #3 in the lineup - Wade/Flores? Davis/Chapman? Or bump Estrada to #3 and Wade/Flores #2 after Lee?
ReplyDeleteWith Soler Giants have just under $24M left to spend before the 1st luxury tax threshold which would rule out Snell if they want to stay under in 2024 and make it tight for Montgomery (MLBTR: Six years, $150M, $25M/year).
ReplyDeleteChapman is estimated for the same amount but trading Davis would remedy the payroll hit. Unfortunately, although that would be good for a couple of years, that contract is certainly to end badly for the team signing him to 5 years.
There is still the backup SS but maybe Fitzgerald or Schmitt or Lopez (maybe that's what FZ is thinking) or Wisely could handle that.
IMO, the Giants would be best off with Montgomery SP, Davis 3B, and a current player backing up SS.
If some money needs to be saved, the best trade option could be Flores to save $5,500,000 AAV, but he was arguably the Giants best offensive player last year, unfortunately without a position especially with DH being filled.
"best trade option could be Flores to save $5,500,000 AAV"
ReplyDeleteTeam needs hitters. Wilbur's a tremendous bargain.
I'd now say stick with Davis and bat him #3 with Soler #4 on deck behind him - might see better numbers without paying big for Chapman. I agree with keeping Flores around as platoon 1B, utility IF, and RH bench bat. That $24M cushion could help acquire someone special at the deadline, so let's see what these young pitchers can really do. Wouldn't cry if we picked up Snell or Montgomery,, though.
ReplyDelete