TRADE: Atlanta Braves Trade Jorge Soler Out West

Now that the World Series is complete, let the trades and signings begin. The Atlanta Braves were first off the mark, shipping out outfielder Jorge Soler to make room for the returning Ronald Acuna Jr. next season. Soler goes to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for starting pitcher Griffin Canning.

OFFICIAL: The Angels have acquired OF/DH Jorge Soler from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for RHP Griffin Canning. pic.twitter.com/27yz5X2D0c
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) October 31, 2024

Soler adds a much-needed power bat to the Angels lineup, who were without Shohei Ohtani of course this year for the first time, and naturally also spent much of the year without Mike Trout as well, in his annual lengthy trip to the injured list.

Soler had a solid year with the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants (he was dealt to Atlanta at the trade deadline), launching 21 homers with a 121 OPS+ (the latter was just about on par with his All-Star 2023 season with the Miami Marlins, though his homer total dropped by 15).

The Angels finished the 2024 season at 28th in MLB in slugging and in OPS, and 22nd in home runs. They hope that Soler can address that. He'll be going into the second season of a three-year, $42 million deal he signed in free agency last offseason with the Giants.

For the Braves, Canning adds some depth to a pitching rotation that just might lose Max Fried and Charlie Morton to free agency this winter (or the latter to retirement?).

Canning, 28, did not have a very impressive season, however, in 2024, posting a 5.19 ERA, and his 99 earned runs allowed were an AL high. He also had a dreary 130:66 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 171⅔ innings, while surrendering a whopping 31 home runs allowed (tied for second most in all of baseball). He has a career 4.78 ERA in five seasons.