Jorge Soler Trade Rumors: Latest News and Speculation on Cubs OF

Scott PolacekJul 24, 2016

Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler has surfaced as a potential name on the move heading toward the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.

Continue for updates.

Soler Not Part of Potential Chapman Trade

Monday, July 25

Soler reportedly drew the interest of the New York Yankees, per Julie DiCaro of 670 The Score on Sunday, though it appears he won't be headed to New York.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi and the New York Post's Joel Sherman reported on Monday morning that Soler is not part of the potential package the Cubs are expected to send to New York for relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman.

DiCaro reported the Soler news after Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball noted the Cubs were “working” on a possible trade for Chapman that included prospect Gleyber Torres.

Soler Must Stay Healthy to Meet Expectations

Soler is working his way back from a stint on the disabled list for a hamstring strain and hasn’t played at the major league level since June 6. He was one of the left field replacements for the North Siders when slugger Kyle Schwarber went down with a torn ACL and LCL early in the season.

Through 50 games this year, Soler slashed .223/.322/.377 with five home runs and 13 RBI. He dealt with injuries in 2015 as well and appeared in only 101 games and slashed .262/.324/.399 with 10 home runs and 47 RBI.

While the overall numbers aren’t particularly impressive, Soler did hit .455 in a small sample size in June before suffering the injury. What’s more, he was an overwhelming force for the Cubs in their run to last year’s National League Championship Series with a .474 batting average, a 1.705 OPS and three home runs in seven postseason games, per ESPN.com.

He provided a glimpse of his potential if he can ever stay fully healthy and didn’t shy away from the moment on the October stage.

Soler is also only 24 years old and under team control through the 2020 campaign, per Spotrac.

As for the Cubs, they would still have plenty of firepower in their lineup if they decided to deal Soler, with the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Dexter Fowler and Addison Russell currently on their roster and Schwarber set to return next season. But losing the outfielder would be a blow.