The Los Angeles Angels are headed for another quiet October, and that means the trade deadline is about to get interesting for them. They’re going to be sellers, plain and simple. And one of the more intriguing names on the market could be Jorge Soler.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand predicted the veteran slugger would be dealt before the deadline, and it’s not hard to see why. Soler has a World Series MVP on his resume, two championship rings, and a power bat that still makes scouts pay attention. Even if the numbers this season don’t exactly scream “must-have.”
Soler started 2026 strong enough — seven homers, 26 RBIs and an .805 OPS in his first 31 games. But since May 4? It’s been a grind. He’s hit just four home runs in his last 48 games with a .580 OPS over that stretch. His most recent homer came on June 24. That’s a cold streak that’s lasted more than a month.
But here’s the thing about Soler. When the lights get bright in October, he’s shown he can flip a switch. He won World Series MVP in 2021 with Atlanta, hitting three homers in the Fall Classic. He’s got the track record. Teams chasing a ring tend to value that kind of experience over a few rough months in the regular season.
Soler is owed a little more than $4 million for the rest of this season, which isn’t nothing but also isn’t a monster contract. Feinsand noted that the Angels might have to eat some of that money to get a decent prospect back. But they’re not going to let him walk for free when he hits free agency this winter. Not if they can help it.
What Soler Brings to a Contender
Over 79 games this year, Soler is hitting .205 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. Those aren’t headline numbers. But he’s got 214 career homers and 595 RBIs over 13 MLB seasons. The power is real. It’s just been inconsistent lately.
The Angels have other guys who could draw interest too. But Soler feels like the most logical trade chip — a rental bat with postseason pedigree who could slide into a contender’s lineup as a designated hitter or occasional outfielder. He’s not a franchise cornerstone anymore. He’s a piece. A potentially valuable one for the right team.
What the Angels get back will depend on how much of that salary they’re willing to eat and how desperate a contender gets. But the whispers are getting louder. Soler in a different uniform by August? That feels more likely than not.
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