Published May 7, 2025 | 5:10 PM EDT
With the St. Louis Cardinals struggling to find consistency from their outfield at the plate, a respected former MLB executive has suggested a bold move to ignite the team’s offense: pursue a deal for veteran slugger Jorge Soler.
The Cardinals’ outfield production has dipped well below expectations through the early months of the season, with the group posting a combined batting average under .230 and failing to provide the power that once defined the franchise’s offensive identity. That’s why Jim Bowden, a longtime MLB general manager turned insider, believes Soler could be the perfect solution.
“Soler is a proven home run threat with a championship pedigree,” Bowden said. “He could immediately plug into the middle of the Cardinals’ lineup and give them the kind of fearsome presence they’ve been missing.”
Currently suiting up for the Los Angeles Angels, Soler is putting together another strong season, already tallying seven home runs and showing signs of his trademark power stroke. The Angels, reportedly open to retooling and shedding payroll, could be motivated to move Soler, who is earning $16 million annually through 2026.
Known best for smashing a Kansas City Royals franchise record 48 home runs in 2019, Soler has made a name for himself as one of the league’s most dangerous sluggers. With a career 162-game average of 31 homers and a history of coming through in clutch moments — including a World Series MVP nod with Atlanta — Soler could be exactly what the Cardinals need to regain their offensive rhythm.
The Cardinals, who are treading water in the standings, could package a mid-level pitching prospect in return. In doing so, they’d add much-needed power without parting with key pieces of their long-term core.
“Adding Soler wouldn’t just be about stats — it would be a message to the rest of the division that the Cardinals are serious about contending right now,” Bowden said.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Cardinals front office will have to weigh whether the cost of acquiring Soler is worth the potential reward — a reenergized offense and a push back toward October baseball.
