SF Giants are 'in talks' with right-handed slugger who hit 36 home runs in 2023

The SF Giants are reportedly "in talks" with right-handed free agent slugger Jorge Soler. This is coming from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

SF Giants are 'in talks' with right-handed slugger who hit 36 home runs in 2023

This will come as welcome news for many Giants fans given the fact that there are some serious questions about the lineup as it currently stands. While "in talks" is a long way from putting Soler's name in pen in the cleanup spot for the Opening Day lineup, it is the first time we have heard about the connection between the two parties.

This move would make a lot of sense for a Giants team whose offense cratered in the second half of 2023 outside of Wilmer Flores. If the Giants are able to sign Soler, he would immediately become one of the, if not the, best hitter on the team.

Last season with the Miami Marlins, Soler slashed .250/.341/.312 with 36 home runs and 75 RBI. While those numbers may not easily translate to Oracle Park, he is still a guy who, if he stays healthy, could easily hit somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 home runs. Wilmer Flores led the team last year with 23.

The Giants would most likely use Soler as a designated hitter. In the 137 games he played in last year, 102 of them were as a DH. He can also play corner outfield spots, but the Giants would most likely prefer to use him as a DH.

A move like this may mean less playing time for Luis Matos or Heliot Ramos. With Soler in the lineup, the Giants would likely have a platoon in left field with Michale Conforto and Austin Slater. That would mean they would have six outfielders on the 26-man roster which would make it hard for some of the younger guys to crack the squad.

Perhaps, Matos and Ramos would benefit from starting the year in Triple-A and getting called up when injuries occur. Soler would help the Giants right now and would be a welcome addition to a lineup in bad need of offensive production.

Giants fans have had their hearts broken by free agents enough to know that they cannot get too excited about this news. However, it is hard not to daydream about a Giants lineup with Soler in the middle of the order cranking home runs toward the giant Coke bottle in left field.