Royals outfielder Jorge Soler has changed his representation, according to Robert Murray of Fan Rag. He will now be represented by the ACES agency.
Soler, 26, will finish the current season with over three years of MLB service, setting the stage for what could be a difficult decision. His original contract —signed after he left Cuba in 2012 — allows him to opt into arbitration upon reaching eligibility. (Though he finished 2017 with 2.143 years of MLB service, he wasn’t eligible as a Super Two because he lacked 86 days on the active roster in the immediately preceding season.)
Therefore, Soler’s new reps will have to help him determine whether to keep the existing deal, which promises $4MM annually through 2020, or instead to launch into the higher-upside, riskier waters of the arb process. If he keeps hitting as he has to this point in the 2018 season, going into arbitration might seem to be a pretty solid bet, though that’d mean giving up the guaranteed money for both of the two remaining seasons in hopes of commanding more in total.
Unless the contract specifies otherwise, it seems that Soler will be eligible for arbitration in the 2021 season regardless. But he could potentially earn more that year if he is seeking a raise from a loftier base rate than the $4MM that’s presently called for.
Whether the long-touted Soler is better off betting on continued production isn’t clear from the numbers. It has been a meandering path to this point. He exploded onto the MLB scene in 2014 before seeing his productivity dwindle in the next two seasons. After being dealt from the Cubs to the Royals, he struggled badly in 2017 and spent most of the year on optional assignment — though he did hit rather well at Triple-A.
Now, Soler is back to driving the ball like he did in his debut campaign. Over 177 plate appearances in 2018, he owns a .297/.401/.486 batting line with five long balls and a career-high 13.0% walk rate. Though his .379 batting average on balls in play is sure to fade, Soler has made plenty of hard contact as well.
You can find all current MLB agency affiliations in MLBTR’s Agency Database.
He will fade the guy is terrible
The BABIP indicates some regression, but I don’t think he’ll be useless. The walk rate and diminished strikeout rates are encouraging, and his revamped swing is helping him with inside pitches. I’m interested in seeing what kind of adjustments MLB pitching makes. Right now they’re working him out of the strike zone, and yet he’s still mashing. What are you gonna do, throw more strikes?
Yeah at 41 games he’s 8 walks away from career high that was set in 101 games.
Still on pace to K 150 tho, but his obp has been 80-100 pts higher than his BA for the last few years. Admitting he hasn’t played a lot of games, but if that stays consistent and he hits 20+ HR, def a place for him in todays game at the 4.6 per he’s signed at thru 2020
Or 2021? Has weird Nine-year contract Lol
think 2021 is arb, right?
How does that trade for Wade Davis look now. Soler is going to be a stud! Where is Davis?
Whatever, they have Heyward…. his glove totally makes up for the .225/306 and 2 homeruns at 19 mil more per than Soler.
So Heywards glove is worth $19 million dollars a years in your valuation ? HAHAHA! Yea, ok!
And if he was still on the cubs, you would say this is unsustainable and he’s a scrub.
It’s really sad how much time you waste trying to (poorly) troll the cubs on here.
The cubs own way too much space in this persons head. Jealousy really looks good on them
Helped them to the NLCS for a third straight year in 2017. Meanwhile, the Royals are mired with the worst record in the MLB.
Second worst actually
he wasn’t going to get the playing time in Chicago, too many hands to feed. He’ll see success in KC, I hope he does, I always liked him, but he needed to play everyday. Cubs weren’t giving up on Schwarber and/or Happ/Almora. They got something in return for him when his value was very low, he had no trade value nor opportunity to play. It is what it is.
Cash money Jorge Lol
Its prime for Jorge solar to be traded for help for your club. Astros need help badly with bullpen and a OF. So Herrera Duffy and Solar could net you a pretty awesome trade package with the Astros loaded in the minors.
Astros would use Duffy out of the pen for alittle while with Herrera and Solar in Lf.
But a headliner of Yordan Alveraz could be a awesome hall for you guys
Hell make a deal for Rusney of Boston with Gordon involved and you might have decent outfield for the rebuild years