Angels DFA Jorge Soler one day after trade deadline
The Los Angeles Angels designated Jorge Soler for assignment on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, one day after the MLB trade deadline. The 34-year-old slugger hit just .203/.291/.373 with 12 home runs this season. With no trade partner found, the Angels are sending him to waivers amid a youth-focused roster overhaul.
Key Takeaways
- The Angels DFA'd Jorge Soler on Aug. 4, 2026, after failing to trade him before Monday's deadline.
- Soler is hitting .203/.291/.373 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI in 361 plate appearances this season.
- He is in the final year of a three-year, $42 million deal; Los Angeles remains on the hook for a prorated share of his $9 million 2026 salary if he is claimed.
- The move clears roster space as the Halos lean into a rebuild after finishing 43-69, worst in the American League, through Aug. 3.
- A former World Series MVP and All-Star, Soler could still draw interest as a right-handed power bat if he clears waivers.
What happened to Jorge Soler?
According to CBS Sports, citing Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com, the Angels designated Soler for assignment on Tuesday. The club could not find a trade partner willing to take on the veteran before Monday's deadline, so it is now exposing him to waivers to open a roster spot for reinforcements.
NBC Sports confirmed the same transaction, noting that after dealing away several expiring contracts on Monday, Los Angeles is now moving on from Soler as well. The team has yet to issue an official announcement, but multiple reports align on the timing and rationale.
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Why did the Angels cut Jorge Soler now?
Production is the clearest driver. Soler has posted a .203/.291/.373 slash line with 12 home runs, 49 RBI, and a 32.7 percent strikeout rate across 361 plate appearances. His season was also limited to 86 games by injury, undercutting any deadline trade value.
The Big Lead reports that Soler is in the final year of a three-year, $42 million contract originally signed with the San Francisco Giants. If another club claims him, the Angels would still owe a prorated portion of his $9 million 2026 salary. That financial reality, plus a 43-69 record that ranked last in the American League through Aug. 3, pushed the franchise toward a youth movement.
Deadline deals sent Chase Silseth, Logan O'Hoppe, Jose Soriano, Brent Suter, Jo Adell, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Kirby Yates elsewhere. Top-100 prospects Arjun Nimmala and Moises Ballesteros headlined the return. With Soler out of the picture, CBS Sports notes the Angels could turn to new acquisition Ballesteros as their primary designated hitter.
What comes next for Jorge Soler?
Once the 34-year-old passes through waivers, he should be able to find a club willing to take a flier on his power. NBC Sports says some team may still take a chance on him as a right-handed bat off the bench.
His résumé remains notable. Soler was World Series MVP for the Atlanta Braves in 2021, batting .300 with three home runs and six RBIs in six games, and made his lone All-Star team with the Miami Marlins in 2022. The Angels acquired him from San Francisco in an October 2024 trade for pitcher Griffin Canning. Since then he has been worth -0.5 WAR over 168 games while slashing .208/.292/.380.
For fantasy managers and fans tracking the fallout, the immediate story is simple: Jorge Soler is off the Angels' active roster, headed to waivers, and available to any contender still hunting for late-season thump.