The Atlanta Braves have made a move to bolster their roster by acquiring All-Star outfielder Jorge Soler and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson from the San Francisco Giants. Both Soler and Jackson were previously with the Braves and played vital roles in their World Series-winning campaign in 2021. In exchange, the Giants will receive left-handed reliever Tyler Matzek and minor league infielder Sabin Ceballos. The Braves are also taking on the full financial commitment of Soler’s contract, paying him $13 million in both 2025 and 2026.
The acquisition of Soler and Jackson is part of the Braves’ strategy to recreate the success they had in 2021 when they overcame the loss of superstar outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to win the World Series. In that season, the Braves added four outfielders at the trade deadline, and now they have brought back two of them in Soler and Eddie Rosario. Soler, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Giants in the offseason, had a solid but slightly down year in 2024 compared to his previous seasons. The Braves are hoping he can replicate his postseason success from 2021, where he was named World Series MVP.
Luke Jackson, who spent five seasons with the Braves from 2017-21, is also returning to Atlanta. He had a career-best year in 2021, posting a 1.98 ERA in 63.2 innings and delivering a strong performance in the World Series. The Braves are looking for Jackson to provide stability and experience in their bullpen as they aim to make another deep postseason run. With Soler and Jackson back in the fold, the Braves are hoping to recapture the magic of their championship season in 2021.
Despite being 8.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, the Braves currently hold the first Wild Card spot in the NL, ahead of the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. The addition of Soler and Jackson is seen as a move to strengthen their playoff push and solidify their chances of returning to the postseason. The Braves are looking to build on their recent success and continue to compete for another World Series title. By bringing back key contributors from their championship team, the Braves are confident in their ability to make a deep run in the playoffs and potentially repeat as champions.
