Braves reunite with WS MVP Soler in deal with Giants
Mark Bowman
MILWAUKEE — Jorge Soler will receive a hero’s welcome when he returns to Atlanta this week to play in front of a fanbase that will forever consider him to be a legend.
Soler and Luke Jackson were acquired from the Giants in exchange for left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek and Minor League infielder Sabin Ceballos late Monday night. Both players acquired played key roles for the Braves when they won the 2021 World Series.
TRADE DETAILS
Braves receive: DH/OF Jorge Soler, RHP Luke Jackson
Giants receive: LHP Tyler Matzek, 3B Sabin Ceballos (Braves’ No. 17 prospect)
Soler is the centerpiece of this acquisition for the Braves, who desperately needed to add to the lineup. The 32-year-old veteran hasn’t played the outfield this year, but he will man one of the corner outfield spots for Atlanta and likely fill the club’s need for a leadoff hitter. He sat at the top of Atlanta’s lineup during the 2021 postseason run.
Soler has hit .240 with 12 homers and a .749 OPS. He was hitting .190 with 13 homers and a .655 OPS when the Braves acquired him from the Royals before the 2021 Trade Deadline. He hadn’t played much outfield that year either.
But he performed adequately defensively over that season’s final two months and highlighted his short stay in Atlanta by winning the 2021 World Series MVP. His titanic blast that exited Houston’s Minute Maid Park in Game 6 remains one of the most iconic moments in Atlanta sports history.
Soler, Jarred Kelenic, Adam Duvall, Ramón Laureano and Eddie Rosario currently stand as the outfielders on Atlanta’s roster. Michael Harris II could join this group when he comes off the injured list within the next few weeks.
No cash was included in this deal. So, the Braves will pay Soler approximately $28 million through the end of the 2026 season. That includes about $2 million this year and $13 million in both 2025 and ’26.
Matzek and Jackson were two of the four key members of The Night Shift, the name given to the Braves’ bullpen as it rolled through the 2021 postseason. Matzek has struggled to return from the Tommy John surgical procedure he underwent at the end of the 2022 season. Jackson has posted a 5.40 ERA in 36 appearances for the Giants this year.
