​Rewritten: The Angels’ star slugger, who has been involved in a brawl earlier this season, is being floated as a buy-low trade option in The Sporting News. The piece also notes that The Sporting News should be added as a preferred source by clicking here. The Los Angeles Angels are expected to field a flood of trade inquiries as the MLB trade deadline approaches, with the team positioned among the lower-tier clubs likely to sell. Yet, Mike Trout isn’t headed out the door, and the chances of deals involving Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano don’t look promising either. That doesn’t mean the Angels won’t part with a few players, though.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report pointed out that an All-Star outfielder and designated hitter could be a compelling buy-low target this season, given the season’s downturn that included a brawl with the Atlanta Braves early on. “The Angels might not be willing to trade Mike Trout or Jo Adell, but it likely won’t take much more than a warm minor-league body to persuade them to move the expiring contract of Jorge Soler,” Kelly contends. While not every Angels player will be available, Jorge Soler is expected to be accessible to any interested suitor.
Several factors likely keep offers modest. Soler hasn’t delivered strong numbers this year: in 72 games, he’s hitting .216 with a .693 OPS, a 95 OPS+. He has 11 home runs and, as a right-handed slugger, could be appealing to some teams, though his defense is suspect and he’s probably pegged as the DH. His value isn’t helped by the fact that this season marks the final year of his three-year, $42 million contract. The combination of underwhelming offense, a hefty payroll commitment, and Soler’s difficulty fitting into the outfield full-time makes him a clear buy-low candidate. And while this isn’t a deal-killer on its own, the brawl earlier this season with Braves pitcher Reynaldo López could further depress his trade value.
For teams seeking a designated hitter, Soler could be a viable option to install as a regular DH, and such a move might be more appealing for the Angels if the return is modest. The trade for Soler, however, would likely yield minimal return and be more about acquiring any potential asset before the expiration of his contract than about obtaining a game-changing piece. Still, a move that adds a controllable expiring contract at a time when the team is selling could be preferable to standing pat.