Angels Trade Canning for Soler

This is the first trade of the offseason. The Angels have traded pitcher Griffin Canning to the Atlanta Braves for OF Jorge Soler.

First reaction: If Soler is to patrol the outfield with his below average glove, this could indicate Mike Trout is becoming the full time DH, lessening the risk of wear-and-tear injury to the Angels most critical player.

Second reaction: Canning looked fine in his final start of the season on the last Saturday of September 2024 at the Big A. The thought that “He might have figured it out” crossed my mind. The Braves are notorious for understanding arms so I cannot have been the only person whose brain worked that way.

Third Reaction: Braves better be eating a LOT of this old guy’s salary. As Jeff Joiner pointed out in his excellent analysis of Canning earlier today here on the site, the assumption is Canning would be making $5.1 Million. Soler will be paid fourteen million in 2025 and 2026. He is six months younger than Mike Trout.

Fourth Reaction: According to Baseball Reference, his nickname is El Yoyo and he has also been called El Crudo on the diamond. He was born in old Habana. He turns 33 on February 25. Baseball Reference also has a tool called similarity scores, where the sum total of a player’s contrbutions are compared to every player ever and the most similar player is assessed. Soler’s most similar player for the past two seasons and thru the Age 32 season is Hunter Renfroe.

Fifth Reaction: He won a ring with the Cubs in 2016 and another with the Braves in 2021 where he was named the World Series MVP, so there is that vibe if you believe in that sort of stuff.

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gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Well. I figured we’d go out and get some power. We need it. And Canning can go, not the end of the world. Especially if we weren’t gonna extend him. I just figured we’d sign some scrub with pop. Not spend so much. On the other hand Soler is a pretty known commodity. He WILL actually hit home runs.

This is a ham sandwich. Neither great nor bad.

WallyChuckChili
Legend
10 days ago

I wish the Angels would have kept him. Kept him past the trade deadline and let him go for nothing at the end on the year so CtPG guy can complain like with Ohtani

Angelz4ever
Super Member
12 days ago

Canning was much maligned (Frequently deservedly so) and now that we move him, via a painless trade, and got at least a serviceable OF/DH with a decent OBP and now Canning had so much worth to the organization?

It should be easy to reach the conclusion that this may help set up trading Ward. In addition, who the Hell did you think was going to patrol RF next season? Juan Soto?

Though he may win a Gold Glove, I don’t think Adell, or even Adell and/or Moniak will produce better than Soler will.

smithy610
Super Member
12 days ago

Meh trade. Won’t make the splashy headlines, but…

This reeks to me of more like a cross-your-fingers-it’s-like-Teoscar-Hernandez type of acquisition. Certainly not the biggest name but arguably has been more impactful at times than the big splash.

Hopefully its additions like this that can improve the fringes, while we cross our fingers yet again that Trout will *finally* stay healthy for a full season. This also signals to me that they think one of the young-er arms may be ready for a May/June callup.

Erstad with the catch
Member
13 days ago

If 1) Canning was going to be non-tendered anyways and 2) the Angels determined that similar production from the free agent market would cost more than $13 M/year, then this might be an ok deal.

OTOH, Soler is 33 years old and his slugging percentage went down from the year before. So we better hope he ages gracefully and doesn’t fall off a cliff.

Also, there’s a real possibility that free agents might not want to sign with this organization, unless they get a premium, because it’s such a mess right.

HalosFanForLife
Trusted Member
13 days ago

I looked at Soler’s splits. He was horrendous from March to May. June onward was better. It is nothing eye-shattering, but he was a solid contributor. So perhaps they see more coming. Even at $13 million a year, they must expect more because he’s under 1 WAR a year for his career. He’s not going to get you plus numbers on the defensive side, so we’ll hope they see more than meets the eye. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling we’re getting fleeced.

Last edited 13 days ago by HalosFanForLife
FungoAle
Legend
13 days ago

This is a just bad trade. Hard to believe he saw value in Soler for where the team is today. Minasian continues his fascination with acquiring slow-footed, non-defensive minded players. Not even a good hitter..

Cowboy26
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  FungoAle

Meh

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago

I don’t think Hunter Renfroe is anywhere near as good of a hitter as Soler.

Last edited 13 days ago by Roy Hobbs
Angelz4ever
Super Member
12 days ago
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

Hunter Renfroe? Isn’t that the guy with the laptop?

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
13 days ago

So, tell me what is more difficult to find, an inning eating pitcher at 5 million per or a 13–16-million-dollar guy who can’t field coming off a poor season? While I like some here who seer the upside of this trade, I think Alex picked Perry’s pocket once again. Would have rather seen in return a couple of 45-50 pitchers from the A class league than this. We can still win 65 games with Soler as we can with Canning-but does Soler pitch? I very much dislike players with no leather who have to play, rather have Mickey with his leather or Adell with his glove than Soler with no glove and making that kind of money.

Fansince1971
Legend
13 days ago

I think Perry has become Alex’s beee-atch.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Fansince1971

 😣 

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago

Cardinals declined team options on Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn today (apparently valuing them at less than the $12M options that would have retained them).

Those are the sort of veteran SP pickups I could imagine the Angels acquiring for 1-2 yrs who would deliver more value than Canning w/o costing too much or depleting the farm in trades.

(None of this – a Soler or a Gibson – are transformative additions. Just placeholders in a grow-the-farm, develop-the-youth strategy that imagines 2027 as the start of the contention window.)

Angelstan
Trusted Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Gibson pretty much is Canning, isn’t he? Has good stuff when he is throwing well. Consistently inconsistent though.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelstan

Only if you’re only using ERA as your benchmark. He’s the most durable pitcher in baseball, with a 4.17 FIP over the past four seasons. (Canning delivered a 4.96 FIP over the same period.)

Gibson is an affordable back of the rotation arm that eats innings, is a strong clubhouse presence, and whose peripherals look better than his results, which have been inflated by some tough ballparks for pitchers (Baltimore, Philly). I think his performance in STL is probably more predictive of how he might perform in a more neutral or pitcher-friendly setting like Anaheim.

Angelstan
Trusted Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

So you think Gibson is better than Canning I assume? I would take Gibson as a veteran at the back end of the rotation and a guy that can be traded midyear if he does well. Of course, a guy like Eovaldi would be better if healthy.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelstan

Gibson is not at the top of my offseason wish list – he’s just the type of veteran free agent that feels like the Angels could get, who is in the Angels budget (maybe $8-12M per year), and who would be a slight improvement over Canning.

If I’m Perry, I’d be trying to pick up 2 starting pitchers on 1-3 yr contracts, and make a couple trades of the Estevez variety that bring in AA/AAA pitching prospects.

My top target would be Nick Martinez.
My second target would be Bieber or Buehler on a short-term, incentive-laden pillow contract.
If I struck out there, I’d look to names like Eovaldi, Wacha and Severino.
Gibson is the next tier.

This is assuming that they’re not playing at the top of the non-QO pool for a Snell or Flaherty. (Though a name like Manaea wouldn’t surprise me at all, since the club loves free agents with iffy long-term track records, but recent short-term success.)

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

I’m all for Bieber. He can baby step his way this year and be ready to lead a staff that could be decent in 2026.

I’d like for one of your high volatility guys and a Gibson. We need reliable bulk innings to both help the bullpen and keep some of the kids in AA/AAA for some more seasoning.

GrandpaBaseball
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

It would be good to know where Arte is drawing the line on payroll though. I would like to see all these mentioned pitchers brought in on 2-year deals and the successful ones traded in July for Yuts, but that is just me focused on rebuilding.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I just hope Arte doesn’t push the team into another long-term budget hole for Bregman or Bellinger – both of whom seem very much the type of past-their-peak ‘splashes’ that Moreno can’t help himself from making.

Buehler seems like someone interchangeable with Bieber, but a little closer to normal health. Though he may have increased his price tag given his postseason performance this year.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

I would actually like to have both Bregman and Bellinger on 2 year deals for 20-25M if that were possible, even 1 year deals. Now Trout has to play in the field and you would be giving up on Adell.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Roy Hobbs

I would like to date an extremely hot woman who builds muscle cars and roots for all the sports teams I love.

As long as we’re mentioning stuff we want that there is no reason to believe will happen.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Exactly. I also think guys like Lynn/Gibson are similar to what we hope a lot of our young arms develop into. So it may add value for us having a guy like that around. But I agree there’s gonna be a lot of “place holder” talent coming into the roster.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
13 days ago

Soler holds a spot for Adams and (I forgot his name) the other really young OFer down on the farm burning it up.

Angelstan
Trusted Member
13 days ago

Soler is likely a part-time OF and part-time DH. This also seems to indicate this year’s OF of Trout, Ward, Adell, and Moniak might be losing one of the above. Either that or Mickey is going to be a fifth OF.

Braves will likely work magic with Canning. But he wasn’t going to turn out here. Hence, Halos got a decent hitter for a replacement level SP at best for them.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelstan

I give this trade two thumbs up. Getting anything for Canning, especially a player like Soler who historically kills the Halos, is a win-win. IMHO this means that Ward will be dealt.

I can only hope that we can plunder one or two of the few ChiSux players of worth with a few smart trades.

Fansince1971
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

Who would you suggest?

Hatcher_Is_My_Homeboy
Trusted Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelstan

Again, I hope none of these outfielders are moved without getting a legit MLB level option back in return. You could do a lot worse than Moniak as your 4th or 5th outfielder. Paging Niko Kavadis or Cole Tucker on line 1-2.

Last edited 13 days ago by Hatcher_Is_My_Homeboy
gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

Why would a team trade us a “legit MLB level option for Ward, etc?

JackFrost
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelstan

Not sure if that magic will happen, but you are right about one thing. He sure as heck was not going to work out here.

DaveChalk
Trusted Member
13 days ago

Any truth to news Angel season ticket orders spiked upon the breaking of this news?

steelgolf
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  DaveChalk

😆

MarineLayer
Super Member
13 days ago

I don’t know how Soler compares to Teoscar as a fielder, but the Doyers were able to incorporate him into lineup and accepted his limitations as a fielder.

Born_in_59
Trusted Member
13 days ago
Reply to  MarineLayer

If you want to trust Baseball Reference’s DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) score Teoscar is a -26 for his career with an occasional positive season, while Soler is a -65.

Hatcher_Is_My_Homeboy
Trusted Member
13 days ago

The notion that this makes Ward or any of our other playable outfielders expendable is SPOOKY. Other than just generally not having enough good players.. Our second biggest issue is depth. When someone inevitably gets hurt rather than coming off the pine with a capable replacement we have been forced to throw non big league caliber players like, Adams, Kavadas, Tucker, Paris etc. out there. If we are trying to compete in a winnable AL West, the goal should be to stockpile as many net positive MLB position players as possible and go get pitching.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
13 days ago

I doubt this makes any outfielder expendable.

Trout, Ward, Soler, Adell to cover 3 outfield spots and DH.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

The only problem is that Soler is terrible with the glove.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
13 days ago

For at least 82 games he’ll have a short porch OF to patrol.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Angelz4ever

I bet we see Soler in the OF 60 or so games total. I think Trout moves to LF and Soler DHs and they flip flop that some when Trout DHs or rests.

Hatcher_Is_My_Homeboy
Trusted Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I sure as hell Hope not.. But “many” people are saying that here and elsewhere.

Cowboy26
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Need MOAR LHB’s

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Moniak? I guess he is the left handed “bat” off the bench.

Angelz4ever
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

The mighty Rendone holds down the DH (Designated horrible) spot in 2025 my friend.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelz4ever

I don’t believe Rendon will be playing.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
13 days ago

Angels DH production was 5th worst in baseball last season by wRC+. I’m shocked there were 4 teams worse.

Not the need I’d address first but a need that needed filling.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Three things have been markedly consistent with Soler in his career thus far: an above-average OBP, an above-average ISO, and he torches left-handed pitching (while holding his own against righties).

If he’s kept largely out of the outfield, he’s likely to be an asset in the lineup, certainly an improvement over last season’s DH options. And at a cost (2yrs/$26M) roughly equivalent to the WAR-based $$ value he delivered over the past two years.

This isn’t a crazy trade.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

I whole heartedly agree. I like it. If he produces a 120 OPS+ like he has the last 3 years, he’s the best hitter on the team after Trout, and he has a positive OBA unlike most of the rest of the team.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Exactly. This trade won’t set the world on fire, but we had a pretty punchless offense last year and Soler is a step towards fixing that.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

I also don’t think there’s any trade scenario where Canning brings in meaningful pitching prospects. No one is trading six years of cost-controlled arms for one year of a below average backend guy.

This swap was always going to be for slightly distressed assets or a bat from an organization that has too many of them.

Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Turk's Teeth

Agreed. When writing my Canning piece that published right before this news, I was considering trade possibilities and there wasn’t anything exciting out there.

This trade well surpasses anything I might have included in that article.

Angelstan
Trusted Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Joiner

Agreed. I think this is an ok deal. Not overly exciting but the Halos letting go a pitcher that really isn’t working here for the Braves bat they needed down the stretch but don’t need as much next season.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

Braves get:
RHP Griffin Canning

Angels get:
DH Jorge Soler

Braves grade: C
Alex Anthopoulos always strikes quickly once the offseason begins — one of the reasons he’s one of the best executives in the game — and this deal comes while the Dodgers are still nursing their World Series-winning hangovers.
The Braves had acquired Soler from the Giants last summer as a fill-in for the injured Ronald Acuna Jr., shoehorning him into right field with Marcell Ozuna locked into the DH role. Soler isn’t really an outfielder any longer — the Giants had played him only as a DH — so it was pretty clear the Braves had to trade him.

With that in mind and knowing Soler will make $16 million each of the next two seasons, getting anything back is fine and Canning could at least be a No. 5 starter. He gives the Braves another rotation option if free agent Max Fried signs elsewhere — which is a strong possibility.
Canning had a 5.19 ERA for the Angels, but he did make 31 starts. He allowed 31 home runs and doesn’t generate a ton of swing-and-miss, but let’s just say that the Braves, with all of their pitching success, are likely to get more out of him than the Angels did.

Angels grade: D
I can sort of see the Angels’ thinking here: Soler is one year removed from a 36-homer season with the Marlins. He has power and gets on base, and the Angels need offense like the rest of us need air to breathe.
But he’s also a guy you don’t want in the outfield, his 2023 sticks out from his other recent seasons — and don’t the Angels have to at least consider making Mike Trout primarily a DH just to try to keep him healthy more? Now that option is blocked, unless they play Soler in the field.
And it’s not like the Angels are deep in starting pitchers to replace Canning. No doubt, they’ll attempt to dig into free agency per Arte Moreno’s stated desire to be more competitive in 2025. We’ll see. — Schoenfield

Angelstan
Trusted Member
13 days ago

I disagree with these grades. Soler is an upgrade as a hitter over Moniak and Adell right now. The Angels had zero in the system at OF worthy of being called up to play. Their DH options other than Trout or Rendon were totally absent. Canning wasn’t reliable for them. He would throw some good games but he was always inconsistent and highly mediocre. Hence, they lost very little by trading him. They received a legitimate MLB power hitter which they don’t have many of in their lineup. I think both teams would get Bs for this swap.

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend
Reply to  Angelstan

Be sure to let David Schoenfield of ESPN know your perspective

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago

I would be happy to discuss it with him.

Twebur
Legend
13 days ago

Dick Schofield’s reaction was……”Meh”.

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Angelstan

Me too. He’s an upgrade as hitter over anyone but Trout and doesn’t block any youth but does force Trout to play in the field, assuming he’s healthy, for which there is no guarantee. This is a solid depth addition assuming he never sees the field.

Erstad with the catch
Member
13 days ago

Clearly a salary dump by the Braves, so I’m surprised we couldn’t get a low level prospect included as a throw in.

The Braves could non-tender Canning in a few weeks and be on the hook for nothing.

$13M a year for Soler seems…steep. Is that really the best use of payroll?

Last edited 13 days ago by Erstad with the catch
Jeff Joiner
Editor
Legend
13 days ago

Considering the weak free agent class for bats we could view the price tag differently in a few months.

Turk's Teeth
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago

$13M a year, not $16M. (The latter is the luxury tax salary due to his signing bonus, not the actual payroll cost.)

Less than what Mitch Haniger or Yoan Moncada were paid last year. Roughly what Avisail Garcia was paid.

gitchogritchoffmypettis
Legend

I had hoped for some sort of prospect in a trade like this too…. but nay.

Cowboy26
Legend
13 days ago

Now I wonder if our biggest problem is that we got the wrong Minasian.

https://x.com/TaylorBlakeWard/status/1852065438471254481

Roy Hobbs
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  Cowboy26

Good Point.

ihearhowie3.0
Super Member
13 days ago

I imagine Canning will be good in Atlanta but I’m done judging these trades in advance. I’ve seen too many good looking ones be bad and bad looking ones turn out OK.

Hoping for the best

Charles Sutton
Editor
Super Member
13 days ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Atlanta never could do anything with Duke Nukem.

red floyd
Legend
13 days ago
Reply to  Charles Sutton

Nuke Lalouche? I hear he’s working on his cliches.

Mia
Legend
Mia
13 days ago
Reply to  ihearhowie3.0

Yep, with our luck this will be the year his production drops off the face of the earth

Senator_John_Blutarsky
Legend

I like this only in the context that Willie Calhoun will not be our DH

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