The San Francisco Giants are not going to be big spenders this offseason like some other teams around Major League Baseball, but that doesn’t mean they won’t consider making moves.
Adrian Houser and Tyler Mahle were solid additions, but they could still use some more slug in the lineup. That’s why a former Atlanta Braves 296-homer slugger wouldn’t be the worst option.
However, as David Schoenfield of ESPN notes, the Giants might avoid that player, Marcell Ozuna of the Braves, due to their bad experience with former Braves slugger Jorge Soler a few years ago.
Giants might avoid Braves slugger due to Jorge Soler
“The Braves have moved on,” Schoenfield writes,” … perhaps leaving the Padres and Giants as the most logical fits. Of those two teams, the Giants have more payroll flexibility. … But they might also see Ozuna as Jorge Soler 2.0 and want no part of that.”
The Giants might have interest in Ozuna to bolster their lineup, but Schoenfield writes that due to their experience with Soler in 2024, the Giants might not want to sign the ex-Braves slugger.
During his 2024 season with the Giants, Soler played in 93 games, hitting .240 with a .749 OPS. While it’s not a bad stint by any means, evidenced by his 114 OPS+ with the Giants, he was dealt to the Braves at the trade deadline.
He put up 1.0 bWAR for the Giants, and while it wasn’t the worst season, Ozuna being a DH-only will restrict the lineup, and it would lead to the Giants being forced to stick Rafael Devers at first base, regardless of how well he plays there.
Instead of signing him and potentially trading him at the deadline as they did two years ago with Soler, the Giants might be better off exploring other additions.
A new second baseman, more outfield help, or even a frontline starter would be better uses of the Giants’ resources this offseason than signing Ozuna, who’s coming off a down season with the Braves.
It might be an overreaction to look back on the Soler signing with such scorn, but Schoenfield’s point is a clear one. The Giants don’t need to add Ozuna, as he doesn’t provide enough upside for the Giants to justify spending on him this offseason.
