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Angels DFA Jorge Soler: $42M Flop Cut Loose
The Angels Said Goodbye to Jorge Soler: What Happened and What’s Next
ELI5 Alert: This article explains everything like you’re five years old — no baseball PhD required!
Who Is Jorge Soler?
Imagine a really strong guy who can hit a baseball really far. That’s Jorge Soler.
- Position: Outfielder / Designated Hitter (DH) — he mostly hits, doesn’t field much
- Age: 34 (getting up there for a baseball player)
- Claim to Fame: Led the American League in home runs back in 2019 (48 of them!)
- Current Team: Was with the Los Angeles Angels… until now
What Just Happened? The "DFA" Explained
The News: The Angels designated Jorge Soler for assignment (DFA).
IMPORTANT CALLOUT: What Does "DFA" Mean?
It sounds scary, but it’s just a roster move. Think of it like this:
- The team says: "We don’t have a spot for you on our main team right now."
- They take him off the 40-man roster (the list of players the team "owns" rights to).
- The team has 7 days to either:
- Trade him to another team
- Put him on waivers (more on this below)
- Release him (let him go free)
It does NOT mean he’s retired or banned. He’s still a pro baseball player — just not on this team right now.
Who broke the story? Journalist Mike Rodriguez (on X/Twitter). The Angels haven’t made it official yet.
Why Did the Angels Do This? The Numbers Don’t Lie
Baseball teams love numbers. Soler’s numbers this year? Not great.
His 2026 Season (So Far)
| Stat | What It Means | Soler’s Number | Is That Good? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | How often he gets a hit | .203 | Low (league avg ~.250) |
| On-Base % | How often he reaches base | .291 | Below average |
| Slugging % | How much power he shows | .373 | Low for a power hitter |
| Home Runs | Big fly balls that score runs | 12 | Okay, but not great |
| Strikeout Rate | How often he swings & misses | 32.7% | Very high (1 in 3 times!) |
| Walk Rate | How often he gets free base | <10% | Dropping for 2 years straight |
The "Contact Problem"
- Contact Rate: 65.7% — 3rd WORST in baseball (min. 300 plate appearances)
- Translation: When he swings, he misses over 1/3 of the time.
- Even when he does hit it, the ball isn’t flying off the bat like it used to.
vs. Left-Handed Pitchers (Supposedly His Strength)
- 2026: .207 / .284 / .341
- 2025: Also struggled
- The Narrative: "Soler crushes lefties" → Not true lately.
The Money Situation: A $42 Million Contract
CONTRACT BREAKDOWN
- Original Deal: 3 years, $42 million with the San Francisco Giants (signed before 2024)
- 2024 Trade Deadline: Giants traded him to the Atlanta Braves
- After 2024: Went back to Braves, then traded to Angels
- 2026 Salary: $13 million (final year of contract)
- Money Left Now: ~$3.91 million (for the rest of this season)
The Problem: He’s making $13M to hit .203 with a 33% strikeout rate. Teams don’t love that return on investment.
What Happens Next? The Waiver Wire Process
Since the trade deadline has passed (July 31), the Angels cannot trade him. Here’s the step-by-step:
The Next Steps (Numbered!)
-
Angels place Soler on WAIVERS
- Every other MLB team gets a chance to "claim" him
- Claiming team takes on his remaining $3.91M salary
-
Wait 48 hours (business days)
- Teams decide: Do we want this guy for $3.91M?
-
Almost certainly: NO ONE CLAIMS HIM
- Why? $3.91M for a .203 hitter with 33% K-rate? Hard pass.
-
Soler CLEARS WAIVERS
- He is now a FREE AGENT
-
Angels RELEASE HIM
- They still pay the $3.91M (owed regardless)
- Soler can sign anywhere, with any team
- Soler signs a MINOR LEAGUE DEAL
- Low risk for a new team (cheap, no roster spot needed yet)
- He tries to fix things in Triple-A, maybe gets called up in September
Summary: The Big Picture
- Jorge Soler (34, power hitter) is having a really bad year by his standards.
- Angels DFA’d him → Took him off the 40-man roster.
- Contract: Final year of $42M deal, ~$3.91M left.
- Trade deadline passed → Must go through waivers.
- No one will claim him → He’ll clear waivers, get released.
- Next stop: Likely a minor league deal with a contender needing right-handed power off the bench.
- Not the end: He’s still a pro. Just needs a fresh start.
Think of it like this: The Angels "cut" him, but they still pay him. He’s now a free agent looking for a new home — probably a low-pressure one where he can remember how to hit.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Is Jorge Soler retired?
Nope! DFA ≠ Retirement. He’s a free agent once he clears waivers. He’ll almost certainly sign with another team soon.
Do the Angels still have to pay him?
Yes. The remaining $3.91 million is guaranteed. Whether he plays for them, another team, or sits at home — they owe it.
Why would another team want him?
Low risk, potential reward. On a minor league deal:
- Costs almost nothing (league minimum, pro-rated)
- If he rediscovers his swing → cheap power bat
- If not → release him, no harm done
What’s a "plate appearance"?
Every time a batter steps up and the at-bat ends (hit, walk, strikeout, sacrifice, etc.). Soler had 361 this year — that’s a lot of chances to struggle.
Could the Angels have traded him before the deadline?
They tried, the article says. But with his performance + $13M salary, no team wanted that package. Hence the DFA after the deadline.
Article based on reporting by Mike Rodriguez (X/Twitter) and MLB Trade Rumors. Transactions not yet officially announced by the Angels.
