The 2024-25 MLB offseason is officially underway as the Atlanta Braves have traded slugging outfielder/designated hitter Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning.

Soler, 32, seemed an obvious trade candidate for the Braves after he was acquired mid-season from the San Francisco Giants in a desperation move to aid an injury-ravaged lineup for the Braves. Due to his defensive limitations and the presence of Marcel Ozuna as Atlanta’s primary DH, they pulled the trigger quickly to move on from Soler. The slugger signed a three-year $42 million deal with the Giants prior to the 2024 season after slugging 36 home runs for Miami during the 2023 season. Soler enjoyed a solid year at the plate in 2024, slashing .241/.338/.442 in 142 games with 21 home runs and 64 RBI.

He now slots in as the projected starting DH for the Angels as they absorb the full two-year, $26 million ($13 million AAV) remaining on his contract. The Angels ranked 28th in baseball at DH with batters combined for  -1.7 fWAR, just ahead of the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds. The Angels got mediocre production out of the spot in the form of 12 home runs and a .206/.284/.323 slash line. Willie Calhoun ended up spending the most time in the spot with 68 games, but he doesn’t exactly fit the bill of a DH the way Soler does. Soler should bring some needed thump in the middle of the Halos order to help aid a lineup that should hopefully have a healthy Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. He is now one of five Angels under a guaranteed contract for the 2025 season, joining Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Tyler Anderson and Robert Stephenson.

The swap of Canning to the Braves helps build out the starting rotation depth in Atlanta. Projected to earn about $5 million in his final year of arbitration, Griffin will aim to join a rotation headlined by presumed 2024 Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale, along with Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider once he’s healthy.

Canning was drafted by the Angels in the second round back in 2017 and was regarded as a top prospect in their system. He made is debut in 2019, making 17 starts at the age of 23 and going 5-6 with a 4.58 ERA in 90 1/3 innings. He has shown promise, particularly in 2020 and 2023, but has yet to fully realize his potential as a big-league starter. 2024 saw him toss a career-high 171 2/3 innings but he did so to the tune of a 5.19 ERA and his 17.6% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate, 40.7% ground-ball rate and 1.63 HR/9 mark were all worse than the league average.

His struggles in 2024 could be a downtick in fastball velocity and just overall command issues but should the Braves choose to tender him a contract, the change of scenery and a good pitching team like the Braves could give Canning the tools need to take a step forward. Being out of minor league options adds some pressure to perform to his situation, but dumping Soler’s salary gives the Braves plenty of breathing room with how they want to move forward.