The Los Angeles Angels removed Cuban outfielder and designated hitter Jorge Soler from their 40-man roster on Tuesday by designating him for assignment, a decision that opens a period of uncertainty about the future of the veteran player, as reported by journalist Mike Deportes.
The California organization was unable to finalize a trade for Soler before the Monday deadline, which led them to choose the designated for assignment (DFA) option as the next step, according to information from MLB Trade Rumors.
From this movement, the Angels have a timeframe to determine the future of the Cuban player among four alternatives: trade him to another franchise, place him on waivers for another team to claim his contract, send him to the Minor Leagues if he is eligible and accepts the assignment, or release him.
It is expected that Moisés Ballesteros will take on the role of the primary designated hitter following Soler's departure from the active roster, according to Sporting News.
The 2026 season of Soler was characterized by poor performance and injuries. At the time of the DFA, the Cuban had an offensive line of .203/.291/.373 with 12 home runs and a strikeout rate of 32.7%, figures well below his historical standards.
In June, Soler was placed on the injured list due to a left oblique strain, retroactive to the 4th of that month, and was activated on June 22 to return as a designated hitter.
The DFA arrives in the final year of Soler's contract with Los Angeles, which includes a base salary of $13 million for 2026, part of a total three-year agreement, and $42 million that the Cuban had originally signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Soler arrived at the Angels on October 31, 2024, in a trade with the , and the organization took over the player's remaining contract.
The Cuban is one of the most powerful hitters of his generation in Major League Baseball. His peak moment came in the 2021 World Series, when he was named MVP after leading the Braves to the title with three home runs and a .300 batting average over six games, becoming the second Cuban to win this award after Liván Hernández with the Marlins in 1997.
This Tuesday also marks the remembrance that in April, Soler was involved in an incident with Dominican pitcher Reynaldo López during a game between the Braves and the Angels, being ejected from the game after getting hit by a pitch following a home run.
With his future still undefined, Soler is waiting for a franchise to show interest in his services, in what could be a pivotal chapter for the continuation of his career in Major League Baseball.
Related videos:
Filed under: