Jorge Soler, Luke Jackson Traded Back to Atlanta in Deadline Deal

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

July 29, 2024

Jorge Soler makes his return back to the chophouse. The Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants have agreed on a trade that will send slugger Soler to Atlanta. Soler, an All-Star in 2023 with the Miami Marlins, made his most significant impact in Atlanta in 2021. The power slugger moved to Atlanta in exchange for RHP Kasey Kalich in 2021. With Atlanta that season, Soler hit .269 in the regular season and 13 home runs in 55 games. The Braves also acquired RHP Luke Jackson, a former Brave for five seasons. Jackson posted his best season in 2021, with a 1.98 ERA and 1.162 WHIP. Jackson was a large part of the Braves bullpen, where he helped the team win the World Series in 2021.

Braves Acquisitions

In 2024, Jorge Soler is posting a .240 batting average, with 12 home runs and a 116 OPS+. Soler signed a 3-year contract in the offseason for 42 million dollars total. The 32-year-old slugger struggles with striking out, with a 24.7% strikeout percentage. Soler’s career is plagued with high strikeout rates, but Atlanta was the only place Soler stuck out less than 20% of the time (18.6%). The Braves sit at the top of the wild card race by half a game above the New York Mets and are buying to keep the wild card spot.

the solar eclipse was actually just jorge soler’s home run ball orbiting earth

pic.twitter.com/CUBtf5XRwz

— hbf ?? (@HonestBravesFan) April 8, 2024

Luke Jackson returns to Atlanta after playing with San Francisco for two seasons. Jackson, a 32-year-old reliever, struggles in the 2024 season with a 5.40 ERA and 1.429 WHIP. Jackson is an average strikeout pitcher at 21.9%, but his 52.0% groundball percentage ranks in the 88th percentile. Although Jackson has struggled with his command as well, the Braves look to tap back into his glory days by returning him to Atlanta.

San Francisco Giants Acquisitions

The San Francisco Giants have positioned themselves as sellers at 53-55 in the NL standings. Four games back of a wild card spot, San Francisco acquires LHP Tyler Matzek and minor-leaguer Sabin Ceballos. Matzek, a 33-year-old who throws with power, hasn’t appeared in a game since May 4. In 11 games this season, Matzek has a 9.90 ERA and 1.900 WHIP. Matzek is signed through 2024 and has a team option in 2025. Ceballos is a third baseman in High-A, with a .259 average in 2024.