Baltimore Orioles Linked to Miami Slugger in Free Agency

The Baltimore Orioles might be in the market for a right-handed bat that can bring them some real power in 2024, and one just hit the market that could be of interest.

Miami’s Jorge Soler exercised his contract option and will become a free agent. Per MLB.com, he is one of the Top 25 free agents on the market and connected him to three teams — the Chicago Cubs, the Miami Marlins and the Baltimore Orioles.

Soler is a former World Series MVP, an award he claimed with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. After that, he signed a three-year deal with the Miami Marlins. After belting 36 home runs this season — the second-most of his career — he is hitting free agency looking for a bigger deal than the $9 million he was set to get with the Marlins.

His season is well-timed, but he also comes with risk. While he’s played 10 years in the Majors with the Chicago Cubs (where he won a World Series in 2016), Kansas City, Atlanta and Miami, he’s only played 100 or more games in a season just four times, including 2023.

Since he had an AL-leading 48 home runs in 2019, he has been more consistent at the plate.

With Miami in 2023 he played in 137 games, but 102 of those came at designated hitter. The other 32 were in right field.

The Orioles have a somewhat complicated outfield situation as all three of their starters are arbitration eligible and seen as attractive trade pieces.

Anthony Santander was their primary right fielder in 2023, and he played well — .257 with 28 home runs and 95 RBI. But he’s entering his final arbitration season and there is a belief the Orioles might deal Santander as his arbitration figure could reach $12 million.

There is also Austin Hays, who played left field and is also arbitration eligible for the second time. He batted .275 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI. Center fielder Cedric Mullins batted .233 with 15 home runs and 74 RBI but has a 30-home run season in his 2021 All-Star season.

The reason all three could be on the market is because the O’s have two of the best outfield prospects in baseball waiting in the wings — Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad. Both are under team control and not eligible for arbitration.

The Orioles don’t have to deal any of their arbitration-eligible outfielders, but based on the fact that both Cowser and Kjerstad made their debuts this season, the Orioles might be ready to make one, or both, a starter.

Even if the Orioles keep all of these outfielders, there is room for Soler, who played most of last season at designated hitter. As a full-time DH, he would give the Orioles additional power in their everyday lineup.