3 early free agent busts the Chicago Cubs were smart to stay away from

Jorge Soler hasn't brought the power the Giants were hoping for

If there's one thing Jorge Soler has always done, it's hit the ball with authority. He's not without flaws, but the former Cubs outfielder has put up some impressive home run totals in his big league career.

The San Francisco Giants added Soler on a three-year, $42 million deal last winter, looking for him to replicate his impressive 2023 campaign in which he blasted 36 home runs for the Miami Marlins. But in the season's first two months, Soler hasn't slugged at all, with his slugging percentage down more than 100 points year over year.

His average exit velo, barrel rate and hard-hit rate are all down sharply and he's essentially been a league-average bat with a 101 OPS+. With Jung Hoo Lee done for the year with an injury, the margin for error in San Francisco is narrower than ever to make the postseason. If Soler doesn't get back on track at the dish, this could be a contract that feels burdensome over the next couple of years.