JORGE SOLER
Last, but not least, we come to Jorge Soler. There’s been no real discussions on Soler being traded, but this is a move that could make sense for the Royals.
The Royals traded for Soler two years ago and he was a big disappointment in year one. Year two, however, saw Soler become the player the Royals thought they were trading for initially. He slashed .265/.354/.466 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 257 plate appearances before missing the rest of the season due to injury.
Injuries have always been the issue for Soler and likely why the Cubs were okay parting ways with him. That’s proven to be the case so far during his tenure in Kansas City and with two years remaining on his contract, it wouldn’t be shocking if a team came calling for Soler.
Soler is a good ball player. He’s the perfect designated hitter candidate, as he can hit for power, but his defense isn’t great. The Royals have slotted him in at right field, but another American League team could decide they need a DH and offer up a player or two in exchange.
The Royals should consider trading Soler because by the time they’re contending again, his contract will be up anyway. This is the time to ship off those long-term deals and get players back in return.