The Atlanta Braves have moved on from Jorge Soler, sending the 32-year-old power hitter to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for right-hander Griffin Canning. For Braves fans, this move might feel familiar; after all, the team brought Soler back into the fold at the 2024 MLB trade deadline for a second stint.
In his 49-game stretch, Soler delivered the offensive boost the Braves needed, slashing .243/.356/.493 and adding some much-needed firepower to a lineup riddled with injuries. But while his bat was helpful this season, the Braves 2025 vision seems to be steering in a different direction.
Soler was slated to make a hefty $16 million in 2025, a price tag the Braves ultimately decided could be better allocated. While his raw power was invaluable this year, next season’s lineup should be back at full strength, making that investment tougher to justify.
Atlanta has already indicated it plans to pick up Marcell Ozuna’s option for 2025, locking down the designated hitter spot and crowding the space Jorge Soler might have filled. And let’s not forget the whispers surrounding Soler’s defense. His outfield performance was flagged in the season’s final stretch, his on-field versatility took a hit.
But if we read between the lines, the real story behind this move might have more to do with Ronald Acuña Jr.’s health. Soler’s return both in 2021 and 2024 happened under the shadow of Acuña’s season-ending injuries. Each time, Soler was asked to step into the power vacuum left by Acuña’s absence.
In 2021, he even played a starring role in the Braves’ championship run, earning World Series MVP honors. Yet once Acuña returned to full strength in 2022, Soler was suddenly expendable. So, what does Soler’s trade say about the Braves’ star outfielder this time around?
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman speculated on October 24 that Acuña could still be easing into play by April 2025, especially given how long his first ACL recovery took. He logged only two games in April 2022, post-surgery, so if the Braves expected a similar recovery timeline this year, holding onto Soler as a power bat insurance policy would have made perfect sense.
Instead, Atlanta opted to move forward without him. That decision signals strong confidence in Acuña’s recovery and readiness to return early next season. It’s fair to wonder if we’ll ever see Acuña steal 70 bases again. His knees have been through two major surgeries, and the team will likely exercise caution with him on the basepaths.
But the Braves’ decision to trade away Jorge Soler suggests they believe he won’t need another extended recovery period this spring. If Atlanta was seriously worried about losing Acuña for an extended stretch in April, parting ways with Soler would have been far less likely.
This trade is more than a reshuffling of the roster. It’s a vote of confidence in Acuña’s health — and a calculated gamble that a fully loaded Braves lineup will be able to stand tall without Soler’s big bat in the mix. The team will funnel those resources into strengthening other areas, likely starting rotation depth, and if all goes well, Acuña will be there to help carry the offense from Opening Day.
