SF Giants reportedly agree to 3-year deal with 2023 NL All-Star

The SF Giants were reportedly in talks with Jorge Soler last week but not much progress has been made since then. According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have agreed to a three-year deal with the power-hitting DH.

SF Giants reportedly agree to 3-year deal with 2023 NL All-Star

The fit for Soler is similar to the Giants' pursuit for Rhys Hoskins. On paper, Hoskins did not fit what the Giants needed given that he was a first baseman and they had that position covered with both LaMonte Wade Jr. and Wilmer Flores.

However, Hoskins and Soler are similar in that they would make just about every lineup in baseball better. Soler is coming off of a season in which he registered a .250/.341/.512 line (128 OPS+) with 36 home runs, 75 RBI, and 77 runs in 580 plate appearances. This includes an 11.4 percent walk rate, 24.3 percent strikeout rate, and a .262 ISO.

Speaking of which, do you remember the last time a Giants hitter swatted 30 home runs in a season? It has been a long time. Too long if you ask me.

Giants fans will be happy to hear that Soler is relatively platoon proof. While platoons may not be as much of an emphasis with Bob Melvin at the helm, they still are a factor in just about every lineup. This is a nonfactor with Soler as he has a career .774 OPS against right-handed pitching and an .865 OPS against left-handed pitching.

Soler is looking to cash out after a solid campaign last year. And, his contract demands, if true, do seem reasonable for a player coming off an excellent year during his age-31 season. There is a good chance that the right-handed bat continues to perform throughout the duration of his three-year deal.

Of course, his defensive fit is a little tougher for a team like the Giants. It is not necessarily his fault either. The Giants' lineup already has too many players who are lacking in athleticism, speed, or versatility. It is tough to add another player like that, especially someone like Soler who is best suited as a DH at this point in his career.

The 10-year veteran has experience in the outfield, but the defensive metrics have long suggested that his best position is DH. That said, there is no doubt that he would upgrade a Giants lineup that struggled to the tune of a .695 OPS in 2023.