Jorge Soler, Atlanta Braves. (Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports)
These three Atlanta Braves could still return to the ballclub even after a lengthy lockout.
While the lockout continues, it may not be the worst thing in the world for the Atlanta Braves in their World Series title defense.
Even after winning their first league championship in 26 years, Atlanta does not have the deepest pockets of any team in baseball. Not to say the Braves are paupers either, but there are financial ramifications to being owned by a corporation instead of a human being. Fortunately, the lockout may slow things down enough to allow these three huge contributors from last year to return.
Here are three Braves who could very well return to Atlanta once the lockout does run its course.
Atlanta Braves: 3 players who could return to the team after the lockout ends
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Jorge Soler
OF Atlanta Braves
Jorge Soler could return, regardless of if the universal DH rule is implemented
When Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos traded for four outfielders ahead of the deadline, there was no way all four would return to the club in 2022, especially with the team’s most talented player Ronald Acuña Jr. returning from a torn ACL. Joc Pederson is the odd man out, but there was some debate over what Jorge Soler could provide to the team as an everyday outfielder.
All Soler did was play better than expected in right field and hit one monster dinger after another in the postseason. His epic moonshots were the reason why he was named 2021 World Series MVP. His Game 6 blast over the train tracks in Houston is a top-three homer in franchise history, alongside David Justice’s solo shot in 1996’s Game 6 and Hank Aaron’s No. 715 way back in 1974.
So while it is up for debate if Soler will return to Atlanta, he offers great value, even in a National League without a DH. He showed in October he can hit in multiple spots in the batting order. Soler could get the starting job in right if Acuña moves over to center. Should the DH be adopted in the Senior Circuit, it will make for an even more compelling case for Liberty Media to re-sign Soler.
Atlanta already got a tremendous return on investment for Soler, but the Braves could so reinvest.