Cuban Jorge Soler recently signed with the San Francisco Giants, according to several reports, the first to report the agreement was Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Multiple sources also told ESPN’s Jeff Passan that it’s a three-year, $42 million deal.
Soler opted out of the final year of his contract with the Miami Marlins, where he would earn $13 million in November after slugging 36 home runs and hitting .250/.341/.512 on the season (126 wRC+). For his efforts he will earn an average of about 14 million dollars per season.
He recorded the second-best walk and strikeout rates of his career at 11.4% and 24.3%, respectively. Soler adds the kind of power the Giants have been lacking in recent years. In 2023 the Giants ranked 19th in the Majors in home runs (174), 24th in runs scored (674), 28th in average (.235), 24th in on-base percentage (.312) and 27th in slugging percentage (. 383).
Soler ➡️ San Francisco
Jorge Soler is reportedly signing a 3-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. pic.twitter.com/t2q0AHPL9q
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 13, 2024
Notably, the Giants haven’t had a player with a 30-homer season since Barry Bonds in 2004, and have only had one 20-homer hitter in their lineup in each of the last two seasons (Joc Pederson with 23 in 2022 and Wilmer Flores with 23 last year).
The native of Mayabeque will be the first player born in Cuba to wear the San Francisco Giants uniform since Alex Sánchez (2005). He will also become the 17th Cuban to play with Giants. Other Cubans such as Liván Hernández (1999-2002), Rene Arocha (1997), Tito Fuentes (1965-1974), José Cardenal (1963-1964) and Dolf Luque (1932-1935) have also worn the Giants colors during the franchise’s illustrious history.