KC Royals: Don’t be surprised if Jorge Soler is traded this season

The KC Royals might be better in 2021 but that doesn’t mean they won’t be trading players away this season. Jorge Soler could be one of them.

Jorge Soler had a season for the ages in 2019, smashing 48 home runs and playing in all 162 games for the first time in his career. Even after a down year in the shortened 2020 season, Soler and the Kansas City Royals agreed to an $8 million deal for 2021, putting his free agency off for another year.

With Soler being a free agent after the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, it would make perfect sense for the Royals to trade him this summer. The only reason this might not happen is if the Royals look to be in contention during that point, but with the amount of outfielders KC has and having other decent options to slot in as their designated hitter, Soler could be a trade candidate either way.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com compiled a list of players who will be trade candidates throughout the year and Soler was on the list, as expected.

"Soler and the Royals settled on an $8.05 million deal for 2021, the final season before the 29-year-old becomes a free agent. Kansas City made some interesting moves this offseason, adding Carlos Santana, Andrew Benintendi, Mike Minor, Michael A. Taylor and Greg Holland among others, giving the Royals an injection of veteran help. But the White Sox, Twins and Indians still pose a serious roadblock to Kansas City’s playoff hopes, setting up a potential summer fire sale of short-term contracts beginning with Soler."

This pretty much sums up what I had mentioned previously though I still think the Royals could trade Soler even if they are in playoff contention come trade deadline time. Soler is 29 years old and while he had 48 home runs just two years ago, he hit just .228 with eight home runs in 2020, but of course, we all know last year wasn’t a great indicator as to what players could do.

Jorge Soler could bring back a key prospect or two in return this summer.

Teams are going to want Soler and if the Royals can get a bat in return for his services, they should do it. He’s a good player, but the team will be able to fill the void at designated hitter pretty easily. They might not offer the power that Soler does, but it wouldn’t make much sense to keep him on the roster unless the Royals are in prime position to make the postseason.

Even if Soler is on pace for another massive season, that’d only up the ante as far as what the Royals could get for him. Soler might have returned for the 2021 season, but the chances of him being a Royal this time next year seem very, very slim.