The Blue Jays don’t need Jorge Soler as their starting deep hitter. He’s still the best target, though.
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After nearly three months, the market for designated hitters has finally heated up, and the Blue Jays should not have to wait long to acquire a middle-of-the-order bat.
Two of DH’s best free-agent choices went off the board this week. Rhys Hoskins, a former Phillie, inked a $34 million (US) two-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. The Arizona Diamondbacks gave Joc Pederson a $12.5 million guarantee two days later.
While they looked for someone to replace Brandon Belt, the Jays were connected to both. General manager Ross Atkins is now anticipated to select from Jorge Soler, J.D. Martinez, Justin Turner, and Joey Votto to fill the opening, barring an unforeseen trade.
Still the most obvious choice is Soler. The 31-year-old’s forte is hitting for power, and the Jays sorely need home runs. Three times, Soler has hit at least 27 home runs, and he recently finished a season in which he blasted 36 for the Miami Marlins. Among Jays eligible hitters, his.853 on-base plus slugging percentage would have been the highest.
MLB Trade Rumors predicted that Soler would ink a three-year contract worth $45 million at the beginning of the off-season. Since then, the market hasn’t performed as predicted, and it’s unclear what he’s asking for right now. The Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners were previously connected to him, but both teams have since made other moves.
That seems to leave the most likely landing places as the financially strapped Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Jays. Only the Jays are anticipated to make it to the postseason out of the three, and according to FanGraphs Roster Resource, the team is still approximately $19 million below the second competitive balance tax threshold. This means that there should be sufficient funds for either Matt Chapman’s return or another major acquisition.
The problem with Soler is his consistency, which is also the reason he doesn’t have many suitors. His performance varies greatly from year to year. The Cuban slugger is rarely anything in between, which makes him an intriguing option for the Jays, who usually place a higher priority on raising the floor of their roster than the ceiling. Atkins is not fond
The Jays would be thrilled to have Soler’s 48-home run season with the Kansas City Royals in 2019 after finishing 16th in that category the previous year. The 14 home runs he hit in 112 at-bats against left-handers in 2023 are equally impressive. The Jays’ 34 hits against lefties are the fewest in the major leagues.
The below-average.658 OPS Soler posted in 94 games for the Royals in 2021 and the.695 he scored in 72 games for the Marlins the following season are far less alluring. Similar to Teoscar Hernández during his time in Toronto, Soler experiences extended stretches of hot hitting followed by long stretches of drought hitting.
Despite being a mediocre defender, Soler did see 32 games in the outfield in 2023. He would likely play in the outfield against left-handed pitchers and start at DH against right-handed pitchers if he signed with the Jays. That would enable the Jays to start Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen in the lineup, or give Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a day off at first base.
Even though Martinez is nearing the end of his career, one could argue that he still offers the more dependable bat. The 13-year veteran is getting ready for his 36th season and doesn’t appear to be slowing down, averaging over 25 home runs since 2021 with an.847 OPS and.278 average.
The issue there is that Martinez is now even more of a defensive liability than he was in his prime. Only three outings in left field during the previous season and none the year before were made by the six-time all-star. His glove may already be in retirement as he gets set to sign what may be his final deal. The Jays’ options with Guerrero and their two catchers would be limited as a result.
The other two applicants ought to be viewed as fallback choices. Turner is 39 years old, and Votto is 40. Both are valuable, and the Jays should keep looking into part-time roles with either bat if they can add more than one, but not at the expense of Soler or even Martinez.
Soler is far from a guaranteed success. However, in the weak free-agent class this year, even a high-end pick like Cody Bellinger isn’t guaranteed to produce. The Jays will need to step outside of their comfort zone and take a chance on a player whose numbers are harder to project after seeing Hoskins and Pederson sign with other teams. It’s possible that player will become Soler.
The Jays still don’t know who their starting DH will be three weeks before camp opens. Soon, the response will be available.
