Giants' Lineup, Payroll After Jorge Soler's Rumored Contract in MLB Free Agency 2024

The San Francisco Giants are adding some much-needed power to their lineup after reportedly agreeing to a deal with Jorge Soler.

Per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Soler's deal with the Giants is for three years. MLB insider Mike Rodriguez (h/t Jon Heyman of MLB Network and the New York Post) reported the contract is worth $42 million.

ESPN's Jeff Passan noted Soler's decision to opt out of his $13 million salary with the Miami Marlins in 2024 paid off.

Soler joins former KBO MVP Jung-hoo Lee, who signed a six-year, $113 million deal in December, as the big free-agent additions to the Giants' lineup. Here's what that group will look like with pitchers and catchers reporting to camp this week.

2024 Giants Projected Lineup

1. Jung Hoo Lee, CF
2. Thairo Estrada, 2B
3. LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B
4. Jorge Soler, DH
5. Michael Conforto, LF
6. Wilmer Flores, 3B
7. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
8. Patrick Bailey, C
9. Marco Luciano, SS

The Giants' had a $151.2 million payroll prior to Soler's signing. His $14 million average annual salary will push that number up to $165.2 million, just ahead of the San Diego Padres ($161.2 million) for the 13th-highest in MLB.

Even though Giants fans have had their hearts broken in the past two years by superstar free agents choosing not to sign with their team, the front office has done a good job this offseason of filling some lineup holes.

Per Kyle Glaser of Baseball America, Lee projects to be an ideal leadoff hitter who hits for a high average and with strong on-base skills:

"Lee is an exemplary hitter with a fast lefthanded swing and elite-hand eye coordination. He identifies pitches quickly and consistently gets the barrel to the ball, driving hittable pitches on a line to all fields. Lee controls the strike zone with a mature, patient approach, hits both lefties and righties and makes consistent contact against both fastballs and breaking balls. He has the athleticism and bat speed to adjust to higher velocities in MLB and projects to be an above-average-to-plus hitter once he settles in."

Soler will have more swing-and-miss in his game than Lee, but he's improved his contact rates over the course of his career. The 31-year-old had a strikeout rate of 32.1 percent in 1,651 at-bats from 2015 to '20.

In 1,290 at-bats over the past three seasons, Soler's strikeout rate is 28.9 percent. His 11.4 percent walk rate in 2023 was the second-highest of his career (11.7 percent in 2016).

There has been a high level of volatility to Soler's performance throughout his career. He's missed at least 25 games in six of the past nine seasons, including 90 in 2022 due to back and pelvis injuries.

Soler rebounded from that injury by hitting .250/.341/.512 with 36 homers in 137 games ofr the Marlins in 2023. When he hits the ball, it tends to be very hard contact. He ranked in the 81st percentile or better in average exit velocity, barrel percentage and hard-hit percentage last season.

The Giants have been desperate for a true power hitter for years. Even when they were on that run of winning three World Series titles in five seasons from 2010 to '14, they ranked in the bottom half of MLB in homers four times.

No Giants player has hit at least 30 homers in a season since Barry Bonds in 2004 (45). Wilmer Flores was the only player on the team last season that hit at least 20 home runs.

Soler has averaged 26 homers over the past five seasons. He led the AL with 48 dingers during the 2019 season when he played for the Kansas City Royals.

The Giants are still looking up at the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, but their offense has been improved thanks to their two big signings this offseason. They should be able to compete for a wild card spot in the NL if Soler stays healthy in 2024.