Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson had, respectively, underperformed the contracts they received the past two winters to such a degree that each player was thought to be unmovable leading up to Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline. Only a team that had known them in better days could have even a whiff of interest.
Farhan Zaidi picked up the scent Monday night and shipped both players to Atlanta, where they will reunite with the team they helped to the 2021 World Series. The Braves agreed to send minor league infielder Sabin Ceballos and veteran lefty Tyler Matzek in exchange, the Giants announced.
According to reports, Atlanta will also assume the remainder of the three-year, $42 million contract Soler signed at the start of spring training. Jackson signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract before the 2023 season and had a $7 million club option for 2025 that the Giants were unlikely to pick up.
Even with a pair of leadoff home runs since the All-Star break bringing his season total to 12, Soler didn’t bring the thump the Giants believed they were getting when they signed the free-agent designated hitter the week pitchers and catchers reported. In 93 games, he batted .240 with a .749 OPS, well below his 2023 marks with Miami.
Jackson was effective in his return from Tommy John surgery last season, posting a 2.90 ERA in 33 appearances, but struggled to find the same success this season while dealing with nagging back issues and had been demoted to largely pitching when the team was behind, sporting a 5.40 ERA in 35 games.
The Braves are betting that both can rediscover their form from the 2021 season, when each was an integral part of the World Series run, including World Series MVP honors for Soler.
For the Giants, the move is more opportunistic than necessarily indicative of a larger selloff to come in the next 24 hours. By shipping off Soler, it should be easier for manager Bob Melvin to find at-bats for younger players such as Luis Matos or Marco Luciano.
Ceballos, 21, was Atlanta’s third-round draft pick in 2023 and was ranked the No. 17 prospect in its organization by MLB.com. He has a .707 OPS in High-A this season while spending most of his time at third base.
Matzek, 33, is currently on the 60-day injured list and hasn’t pitched since May 4 with left elbow inflammation.
