Miami Marlins outfielder Jorge Soler‘s future will be tied to South Beach at least for another year.
He had an opt-out clause to get out of his contract this offseason.
However, after an uneven 2022 campaign that ended early with a back injury, the 2021 World Series hero will stay in Miami, as per Marlins insider Craig Mish.
“Marlins LF Jorge Soler will not opt-out of his deal with the Marlins, per source. Soler will now earn $15 million dollars with Miami in 2023. He can opt-out after 2023, or exercise his final player option for $9 million dollars in 2024,” Mish tweeted.
Marlins LF Jorge Soler will not opt-out of his deal with the Marlins, per source. Soler will now earn $15 million dollars with Miami in 2023. He can opt-out after 2023, or exercise his final player option for $9 million dollars in 2024.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) November 8, 2022
For the motives explained above, Soler’s decision was not shocking.
He had little chance of earning something close to $15 million in the open market after slashing .207/.295/.400 in 306 trips to the plate with Miami last season.
Miami Expected More From Him In 2022
He wasn’t a disaster as his average may suggest: with a 98 wRC+, he was just a hair below the league-average of 100.
But the team needed better production from him.
Soler offers some serious bounce-back potential for a Marlins team that is probably not mad to see him return because their lineup could really use some power thump.
A healthy Soler is capable of hitting 48 home runs in a single season, as he did with the Kansas City Royals in 2019.
He may have been aided by the ball, but was among the league leaders anyway.
What he did with the Braves after being traded there in 2021 – .269/.358/.524 with a 132 wRC+ – should be considered his ceiling, and it’s not bad at all.
If Soler can return to that form, the Marlins may have one less problem.
It’s not particularly likely, though: he has been inconsistent during his whole career.
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