SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants gave off the appearance of being sellers while making their first major transaction ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, shipping designated hitter Jorge Soler and right-hander Luke Jackson to the Atlanta Braves on Monday night in exchange for injured left-hander Tyler Matzek and High-A third base prospect Sabin Ceballos.
But Giants officials do not expect this to be the first spark in a fire sale.
Even though they remain on the fringes of contention, they could not turn down the opportunity to ditch everything that remains on the three-year, $42 million contract that Soler signed in spring training. No cash is changing hands in the trade with Atlanta, where Soler was World Series MVP in 2021 with Jackson as his teammate.
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Soler, as an exclusive DH, limited the Giants’ lineup and roster flexibility. That wouldn’t have been a problem if he were on pace to hit 36 home runs, as he did for the Miami Marlins last season. When the Giants signed Soler, it was with the heady expectation that he would contribute the franchise’s first 30-home run season since Barry Bonds in 2004. But Soler, 32, has hit just 12 home runs this season and has been so allergic to RBI situations that the Giants batted him leadoff — a slot where he said he felt most comfortable — in the hope of alleviating pressure to be one of the team’s top run producers. Soler had an .848 OPS with the bases empty and just a .646 OPS with runners aboard. He stepped to the plate with 256 runners on base and drove in just 29 of them.
Soler was due to make $13 million in each of the next two seasons.
His departure will open up the DH spot and create more options for Giants manager Bob Melvin, including an avenue for 22-year-old top prospect Marco Luciano, who had quality plate appearances in a major-league stint in May but couldn’t stick as a reliable defensive option at shortstop. The Giants are expected to promote Luciano from Triple-A Sacramento, where he has especially locked in of late, posting a .413 on-base percentage while hitting six home runs in July.
Marco Luciano (@SFGiants) continues his homer parade in July 🙌
MLB’s No. 73 prospect tags his sixth long ball in his past 19 games for the Triple-A @RiverCats. pic.twitter.com/SvEhsDPyHI
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 29, 2024
The Giants also plan to rotate outfielder Michael Conforto and, when healthy, infielder Wilmer Flores in the DH slot — changes that could allow them to prioritize defense while leaning into their (finally) fully assembled rotation.
The Giants expect to try to do a mix of buying and selling prior to Tuesday’s deadline, with an eye to acquire a plus defender in center field whose presence could allow them to move Heliot Ramos to a corner outfield spot. But they do not expect to take a big swing at Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert or Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger.
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They also will continue to listen to offers for left-hander Blake Snell, whose resurgence over his past four starts has created a flurry of interest from seemingly half the league.
The Giants have informed interested teams that they would only deal Snell if they are overwhelmed by an offer that includes ultra-top prospects; the three-player package that the Houston Astros gave to Toronto for left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, for example, likely would not be enough for the Giants to consider dealing Snell.
As long as Snell finishes the season healthy, the near universal expectation is that he will opt out of a $30 million salary for next season. The Giants are likely to lose Snell without even the prospect of draft compensation. But Snell presence is critical to their second-half rotation designs — a group that now includes 2021 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray in addition to last year’s NL runner-up, Logan Webb, and promising left-hander Kyle Harrison — that have finally come to fruition.
Jackson, 32, had a 5.40 ERA in 36 games and became an odd fit as a reliever signed to pitch in a high-leverage role who became the least trusted arm in the bullpen. The Giants had a surplus of right-handers after transitioning Jordan Hicks from his role as a first-year converted starter back to the bullpen after he soared past his previous high for innings in a season. Jackson signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery prior to the 2023 season; the Braves will pay the remainder of his $6.5 million salary and cover the $2 million buyout on a $7 million club option for 2025.
Matzek, 33, was one of Atlanta’s top relievers before undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the 2023 season and then experiencing elbow inflammation this year. He had a 9.90 ERA in 11 games and is on the injured list. The Giants are responsible for the remaining $1.9 million owed to him this season — the one cash concession they made in the trade — but a $5.5 million club option for 2025 includes no buyout.
Ceballos, 21, hails from Puerto Rico and was the Braves’ third-round pick last year out of the University of Oregon. He was batting .259/.353/.354 with three home runs in 84 games for the Braves’ High-A club in Rome, Ga.
(Photo of Soler: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
