Needing a DH to cap off a wildly successful offseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks remain interested in slugger Jorge Soler.
According to MLB insider Mark Feinsand, the Diamondbacks are joined by the Blue Jays and the Red Sox as teams pursuing the 2021 World Series MVP.
Last season, with the Marlins, Soler attended his first All-Star game. In 137 games, Jorge slashed 36 home runs, drove in 75 runs, and posted a .853 SLG.
The 36 home runs hit by Soler were the most since his 2019 season with the Kansas City Royals. Proving that even at 31 years old, there is plenty of pop left in his bat.
In 2023, he finished in the 94th percentile in xSLG and 81st in average exit velocity, according to Statcast.
Considering the Diamondbacks do not currently have a set-in-stone designated hitter, as it is the last box that they need to check off this offseason, it is no surprise that Soler is near the top of their wish list.
As also pointed out by Feinsand, Arizona still has a tremendous interest in acquiring J.D. Martinez. Feinsand stated, “A reunion with the D-backs, for whom Martinez had a huge 62-game stint in 2017, would also make sense.”
The “huge 62-game stint” that Feinsand refers to is the 2nd half of the 2017 season, where Martinez hit 29 home runs in just 62 games, which put him on pace for 75 homers in 162 games.
With free agency heating up now that the holiday season is over, stay tuned for further updates.
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