Fans might still be rejoicing over the final out of the World Series, but that didn’t stop the Angels from making a big move yesterday. They swapped right-handed Griffin Canning to the Atlanta Braves for the hard-hitting Soler.
Soler is also no stranger to the playoffs during his tenure with Chicago, he won the world series in the 2016 season with the Cub and took the same title last season with the Braves. He recently played for the Houston Astros to be the Most Valuable Player of the World Series of 2021; he batted 0.300 with three home runs and six RBIs.
Soler is set to earn $16 million each of the next two years due to his current contract after the Giants signed him to a three-year worth $42 million contract. There were no monetary transactions in the trade since is a direct player exchange that add more proven arms on the Angels roster but adds to payroll expense.
The Angels also wanted more hitting to back up Mike Trout who is usually a power hitter, but has had his share of injuries. Soler is not much of a fielder, but he can play both S and DH left and right. He will sign an outfield team composed of Taylor Ward, Jo Adell, Mickey Moniak, and himself, Trout. Soler has demonstrated versatility by having played 162 games in 2019 and 149 games in 2021, 137 in 2023, and 142 in 2024, but he only got to play 72 in 2022 due to injuries.
Canning, 28, is leaving his previous uneven season where he had the 5.19 ERA and led the AL in earned runs, 99. For the current year, he has bowled 130 to achieve the strikeout, and 66 to achieve the walk while he gave 31 home runs in 171 2/3 innings. Although he faced so many challenges, he made all his starts and he was again nominated for the Gold Glove Award, an award he had previously won in 2020. Canning is to go to arbitration after this offseason and will be a free agent after the 2025 season with $2.6 million of salary received in 2024.