Free Agent Target: Mariners should add power hitting right handed bat Jorge Soler
The Mariners did not offer Teoscar Hernandez a qualifying offer so as it stands they need to fill a right handed power hitter that can play some outfield and DH. We are going to look at an option of someone with tons of power in his bat.
Jorge Soler opted out of the final year of his 3 year $36,000,000 contract. He was scheduled to make $9,000,000 in 2024. He is now a free agent and will look to get a multiyear deal.
Jorge Soler has had quite the up and down career so far. 2019 was by far his best year in the big leagues, he had a OPS+ of 138 with 48 homeruns and 117 RBI's. But this came with 178 K's. In 2020 he had an OPS + of 106, 99 in 2021 but was much better once he was traded to the Braves. Then he had an injury filled season in 2022 where he only played 72 games and had an OPS+ of 95.
Soler is a Mariner hero for what he did to the Astros in the 2021 World Series, as he was on fire and took home the World Series MVP.
The 2023 season was much better for Soler as he had an OPS+ of 128 with 36 homeruns, 75 RBI's and 77 runs scored as he helped the Marlins make the playoffs. Soler's 2023 K% was 24.3, which is a little bit higher than MLB average. His BB% was 10.6 which is better than MLB average. Soler does strike out more than most but not as much as Teoscar Hernandez, I think the Mariners have to decide that if his higher walk rate is enough to offset that.
Another thing that the Mariners need to consider is that Soler main position is DH, He only played 32 games in the OF in 2023. Jerry likes Servais to be able to use the DH spot as a revolving door to give players some rest games where they only DH. Mariners need to decide if they want to have that Nelson Cruz type player that only plays DH on their roster.