Jorge Soler would be a nice reunion with Cubs |
At some point, the Chicago Cubs will start to make some moves as they continue to piece together their roster for the 2024 season. As things sit right now, the Cubs haven't done much apart from bringing in Craig Counsell, but the longer this team waits to make moves, the less likely they will land some of the better players on the market.
When you look at this roster, four significant holes need to be addressed. Two of those holes are on offense, with one of those being a lack of left-handed power. That is why adding Shohei Otani was so crucial, but with him off the market, it seems like Cody Bellinger or bust for the Cubs, which would still be a big win. Along with that comes holes at both 1B and 3B and the need for additional power in the lineup. Although the Cubs had seven players hit 20 or more homers last season, you could make the case that Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki were the only ones that scared you, and that could be a concern heading into next season. This team needs to add more power to the middle of their lineup to put at least some fear into opposing pitchers. Ian Happ, Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Christopher Morel provide a little bit of fear, but until they land a player capable of hitting 40 homers, this lineup will still be viewed as a soft lineup. Enter Jorge Soler as a potential option for this team, as the free agent is starting to hear his name linked to the Cubs as a possible fit. A RF by trade, Soler has spent the better part of his past four seasons being a DH, which would be his role with the Cubs. This would also be one of those careers coming full circle moments as he began his career with the Cubs in 2014 before the team traded him to the Kansas City Royals in what was viewed as giving up on him too soon. Signed as an International Free Agent during the Theo Epstein days, the 6-4 235-pound Soler was an imposing figure and one that was gaining a ton of Minor League attention. After spending less than two seasons in the minors and putting on a show, the Cubs called him up late in the 2014 season, where he proceeded to hit a 422-foot homer in his first career at bat. Soler would hit .292 that summer with five homers and 20 RBIs in 24 games. Then came the 2015 season, where he made the opening-day roster and was the starting RF. Expecting to have a massive season, Soler showed potential, but dealt with some hamstring injuries that season as he finished the 2015 season with a .262 average across 108 games, hitting 10 homers and driving in 47. He then put up one of the best postseason shows that fall, when he connected for five homers as part of the Cubs NLCS run. One season later, the Cubs signed Jason Heyward, which brought into question Soler's future, but after Kyle Schwarber tore his ACL, Soler made the move to LF. It was a rough showing that season, hitting .238 in less than 90 games while also hitting 12 homers and driving in 37. Overall, it was a down season, but the Cubs knew they had something in him. That was until the Cubs needed a closer and traded Soler to Kansas City in exchange for Wade Davis. Since then, Soler has turned into the power hitter the Cubs were hoping for, as he has hit 20 or more homers three times since, including 36 homers with the Marlins last season. His best season came with the Royals in 2019 where he not only became one of the better middle of the lineup bats, but would have been an MVP candidate if he was on a better team. In 162 games that season, Soler hit .265 with 48 homers and 113 RBIs. Those days are way behind him, but he is still a valuable piece to put in the middle of any lineup. According to reports, Soler is looking for a three-year deal for around 45 million. It seems like a stretch to give Soler three years, but it may be worth it for that production, especially if he becomes the full-time DH. Adding Soler to this lineup makes them better, but it would only do a little to move the needle. Now, add Bellinger and bring in Soler, and you are looking at a very potent middle of the lineup. The need and the fit are there, but Soler has always complained about cold weather, which he will have to deal with for, at worst, two months. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcShmSqDPns
