San Francisco, CA
Impactful Jorge Soler Makes San Francisco Giants More Dangerous
MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 05: Jorge Soler #12 of the Miami Marlins celebrates in the dugout after … [+]
The addition of Jorge Soler has added a legitimate power source to the San Francisco Giants lineup.
The right-handed hitting Soler, who turns 32 February 25, gives the Giants a power source in the middle of a lineup that is in need of greater run production.
After spending the past two seasons with the Miami Marlins, Soler signed a three-year deal. He will get a $9 million signing bonus, and a $7 million salary for 2024. He will then receive $13 million in each of the 2025, and 2026 seasons.
According to Fangraphs, the addition of Soler brings the Giants estimated 2024 player payroll to $164 million, a decrease of $32 million from last season.
It would seem the Giants still have plenty of salary room to add even more power or offensive improvement to their batting order.
As of this writing, players like Cody Bellinger, Adam Duvall, and J.D. Martinez remain on the free agent market.
TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 9: Jorge Soler #68 of the Chicago Cubs during MLB game action against … [+]
About Jorge Soler:
In 2010 and 2011, Jorge Soler played for La Habana in the Cuban National Series, when he was just 17, and 18-years old.
Soler was viewed as the best overall player on the Cuban Bronze Medal Team in the 2010 World Junior Championships.
Soler was unsuccessful in his first attempt to defect from Cuba, but he did succeed in 2011.
Soler signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2012.
Soler was so highly regarded, the Cubs signed him to a nine-year, $30 million contract. His contract included a $6 million bonus.
Soler made his big league debut with the Cubs in August 2014, when he was just 22-years-old.
Even with his outstanding power potential, Soler played only parts of three seasons with the Cubs.
The Cubs traded Soler to the Kansas City Royals on December 7, 2016, getting pitcher Wade Davis in return from the Royals.
On July 30, 2021, the Royals traded Soler to the Atlanta Braves for relief pitcher Kasey Kalich.
Entering free agency at the conclusion of the 2021 season, Soler signed with the Miami Marlins, where he played until he once again reached free agency at the end of this past season.
In parts of 10 big league seasons, Soler has compiled an offensive stat line of .243/.330/.467/.797, with 163 doubles, three triples, 170 home runs, and 452 RBIs in 3,473 plate appearances.
Slow afoot, Soler has stolen only 11 bases in his meager 16 stolen base attempts.
At 6-4, 235 pounds, like many power hitters, strikeouts remain an issue for Soler.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 14: Jorge Soler #12 of the Miami Marlins reacts after his solo home run … [+]
Soler’s Power:
Jorge Soler will be coming off his final year in Miami, when he hit 36 home runs, and drove in 75 runs in 580 plate appearances.
Last year was his only All Star season.
In his best power season, Soler hit 48 home runs, and drove in 117 runs for the 2019 Kansas City Royals.
Soler was named the 2021 World Series Most Valuable Player, as his Braves defeated the Houston Astros in six games.
In that World Series, Soler hit .300, with three homers, and six RBIs. He was a unanimous choice for MVP.
His postseason success for the Braves, coupled with his outstanding 2023 season with the Marlins, highlight Soler as a true power threat, capable of changing a game with one swing of his bat.
Some analysts believed Soler would earn more than $14 million annually for three years as a free agent. So, some may view the Giants acquisition of Soler as a bargain.
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee speaks during a baseball news conference in San Francisco, … [+]
Projected San Francisco Giants Lineup:
With the Giants, Fangraphs projects Soler to hit in the cleanup spot, and serve as the team’s designated hitter.
Short of an additional offensive player addition, here is the opening day lineup Fangraphs projects for manager Bob Melvin’s Giants:
Jung Hoo Lee-CF
Thairo Estrada-2B
LaMonte Wade Jr.-1B
Jorge Soler-DH
Michael Conforto-LF
Wilmer Flores-3B
Mike Yastrzemski-RF
Patrick Bailey-C
Marco Luciano-SS
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 16: Jorge Soler #12 of the Miami Marlins celebrates walk-off two-run home run … [+]
What Soler Can Mean To The Giants:
When he was signed by the Cubs out of Cuba, at full player skill maturation, Soler was projected to be a Grade 65 player.
A Grade 65 player is a consistent All Star.
A Grade 65 player is among the best in the game in any given year.
Soler has fallen short of that lofty projection.
However, he remains dangerous, as he demonstrated last year with the Miami Marlins.
Soler has the potential to make every hitter in the Giants lineup more impactful.
Soler has the potential to eclipse the 23 homers hit last year by Wilmer Flores, the most on the Giants roster.
Pitchers must now cope with the fact that Soler lurks in the middle of the batting order. His presence may mean hitters like Wade Jr., Conforto, and Flores may see better pitches to hit.
Opposing managers are fond of saying, “Don’t let this guy beat us.” That guy will be Jorge Soler.
To this old scout, because they have added Jung Hoo Lee, and Jorge Soler, the San Francisco Giants are a much more formidable offensive team today than they were when the 2023 season ended.
San Francisco, CA
Man convicted in the deadly 2021 assault of a Thai grandfather in San Francisco avoids prison
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man convicted in the fatal 2021 attack of an older Thai man in San Francisco, which galvanized a movement against anti-Asian hate, will be able to avoid prison time, a judge ruled Thursday.
Antoine Watson, 25, was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter in the death of Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84. But, having already spent five years in jail awaiting trial, Watson received credit for time served, and San Francisco Superior Court Judge Linda Colfax said he could have the remaining three years suspended if he follows the rules of his probation.
Ratanapakdee’s daughter, Monthanus, expressed her family’s disappointment in a statement shared by Justice For Vicha, the foundation named for her father.
“We respect the court process. However, this is not about revenge — it is about accountability,” she said. “When consequences do not reflect the seriousness of the harm, it raises concerns about how we protect our seniors and public safety.”
Vicha Ratanapakdee was out for his usual morning walk in the quiet neighborhood he lived in with his wife, daughter and her family when Watson charged at him and knocked him to the ground. Ratanapakdee never regained consciousness and died two days later.
Watson testified on the stand that he was in a haze of confusion and anger at the time of the unprovoked attack, according to KRON-TV. He said he lashed out and didn’t know that Ratanapakdee was Asian or older.
San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju, whose office defended Watson, also said at his trial that the defendant is “fully remorseful for his mistake.”
The Office of the San Francisco Public Defender did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment on Watson’s sentencing.
Footage of the attack was captured on a neighbor’s security camera and spread across social media, prompting a surge in activism over a rise in anti-Asian crimes driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of people across several U.S. cities commemorated the anniversary of Ratanapakdee’s death in 2022, seeking justice for Asian Americans who have been harassed, assaulted and even killed in alarming numbers.
Asians in America have long been subject to prejudice and discrimination, but the attacks escalated sharply after COVID-19 first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. More than 10,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition from March 2020 through September 2021.
While the Ratanapakdee family asserts he was attacked because of his race, hate crime charges were not filed and the argument was not raised in trial. Prosecutors have said hate crimes are difficult to prove absent statements by the suspect.
San Francisco, CA
Authors gathering in San Francisco to raise awareness and money for the National Kidney Foundation
A number of notable authors are set to take part in a special event in San Francisco this Sunday, celebrating a shared love of reading while shining a light on an often overlooked health issue. The National Kidney Foundation Authors Luncheon brings together writers and community members to support kidney health awareness and raise funds for critical programs.
Aaron Judge went hitless on opening day for the first time and struck out four times for the first time since September 2024, but the New York Yankees still produced plenty of offense and beat San Francisco 7-0 Wednesday night in the debut of Giants manager Tony Vitello as the major league season began.
José Caballero drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in a five-run second and also lost the first challenge taken to Major League Baseball’s so-called robot umpire, unsuccessfully appealing a strike by Logan Webb in the fourth.
Max Fried (1-0) allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings to became just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6 1/3 shutout innings on opening day, joining Catfish Hunter (1977), Ron Guidry (1980), Rick Rhoden (1988) and David Cone (1996). New York won an opener with a shutout on the road for the first time since 1967.
Webb (0-1) started the fourth inning with a 90.7 mph sinker on the upper, inner corner that was called a strike by Bill Miller, a major league umpire since 1997. Caballero tapped his helmet, and the 12 Hawk-Eye cameras of the Automated Ball-Strike System upheld Miller’s decision in a graphic shown on the Oracle Park scoreboard.
Caballero singled in the second and Ryan McMahon followed with a two-run single before Austin Wells’ single prompted a mound visit for Webb. Trent Grisham hit a two-run triple and was checked by medical staff after a hard slide into third.
Judge was booed before the game and during each at-bat as he began his 11th big league season. The California native had been pursued by the Giants during free agency in 2022 but he ultimately chose the Yankees’ $360 million, nine-year contract offer.
Webb, a 15-game winner last season making his fifth start on opening day, was tagged for six earned runs — seven in all — and nine hits over five innings.
The 47-year-old Vitello made the big jump from coaching the University of Tennessee.
The teams resum3 the series Friday afternoon, with RHP Cam Schlittler starting for New York opposite lefty Robbie Ray.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
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