The Atlanta Braves sit atop the National League Wild Card standings and have done so without the services of defending league MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., who started the season slow and then hit the IL for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. To remedy their offensive struggles, the Braves are looking to a familiar hero and picked up another old friend in the process.
Atlanta has acquired outfielder Jorge Soler and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson from the San Francisco Giants, sending prospect Sabin Ceballos back to the Bay.
In addition, the Giants are taking on injured lefty Tyler Matzek, who is owed about $600,000 the rest of the season.
Soler is owed about $2 million for the balance of this season, then $26 million through 2026 as part of his three-year, $42 million free-agent deal signed this past winter.
The 32-year-old is batting .240/.330/.419 with 12 home runs, a far cry from his 2023 production. The Braves are hoping to get the same results they did three seasons ago when a scuffling Soler was acquired from the Kansas City Royals and promptly posted a 131 wRC+ with 14 home runs, helping lead the club to a championship and Soler the MVP of the World Series.
Soler has been used strictly as a DH by the Giants this season, as has Marcell Ozuna by the Braves. Something will have to give, so expect at least one of the two to start seeing the outfield.
Jackson, also 32 and also part of the 2021 club, has been knocked around a bit this season, posting below-average runs-allowed results. His fastball-slider combo hasn’t been as effective this season, particularly in the swing-and-miss department, but Jackson continues to induce ground balls (52%) and is throwing as hard as ever.
The Braves have a club option on Jackson for a whopping $7 million and a $2 million buyout.
Ceballos was the Braves’ third-round pick a year ago and was batting .259/.353/.354 in High-A through 84 games. He’s 21 and possesses average power and terrific hands that project well at third base long-term.
Matzek, who comes with a $5.5 million team option for 2025, has made just 11 appearances this season thanks to an elbow injury that landed him on the 60-day IL. He’s currently throwing and could return to the mound late this season.
Taking on the near-$30 million in salary for Soler is a considerable risk, but the prospect cost was minimal. The Giants get a reset on one of their free-agent signings from the winter, which may allow them to make a play this coming offseason where they otherwise may not have had the opportunity.
Another element here for the Giants is they are still in the Wild Card hunt, despite needing to pass four clubs. They are just 3.5 games back entering play Tuesday.
TRADE GRADES (20-80 Scale)
Atlanta: 50
San Francisco: 60
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