Braves address present needs, future plans with move before Deadline

MILWAUKEE -- Marcell Ozuna’s option will most likely be exercised and Ronald Acuña Jr. is still expected to be ready around Opening Day next year. But the Braves are planning for Jorge Soler to also remain a key asset beyond the remainder of this season.

“It’s no secret that we wanted to upgrade from an offensive standpoint,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said. “Getting on-base [percentage] and power were priorities for us. Jorge is the best combination of those two things. He was the best bat available in our minds for what we want to do.”

When the Trade Deadline passed Tuesday evening, the Braves were looking forward to what they will gain from Soler and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson, who were acquired from the Giants late Monday night. Both traveled to Milwaukee on Tuesday in preparation of being activated for Wednesday afternoon’s series finale against the Brewers.

Soler will be filling the leadoff spot that Jarred Kelenic capably handled in the Braves’ 5-1 win on Tuesday night. The Milwaukee-area native homered and doubled while playing just his second career game at American Family Field, the park he regularly visited as a young Brewers fan.

“This lineup has a chance to be really good,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “[Soler’s addition] will lengthen the lineup and make it a rough first inning for a lot of pitchers, too. I’ll be glad to see him tomorrow.”

Jackson became a fan favorite while pitching for the Braves from 2017-21. He was a founding member of The Night Shift, the group of relievers who carried Atlanta through the postseason. Their fame was aided by Soler, who was named 2021 World Series MVP a little more than two months after the Braves acquired him at the Trade Deadline.

“These two guys fit in great here once and I think they’ll do it again,” Snitker said. “I think they’re really excited about coming back.”

The Braves will pay Soler approximately $28 million through the end of the 2026 season. That includes about $2 million this year and $13 million in both 2025 and ’26. This won’t prevent them from picking up Ozuna’s $16 million option for next season.

Ozuna will serve as the designated hitter next year, while Soler continues to share the outfield with Acuña, Michael Harris II and Jarred Kelenic. Soler could become Atlanta’s DH for the 2026 season.

It was obvious the Braves were going to add an outfielder and possibly a second baseman to account for Ozzie Albies being sidelined until September’s second half. Nacho Alvarez Jr. has shown he isn’t ready for the Majors, but Whit Merrifield could start serving as Atlanta’s everyday second baseman this week.

The Braves evaluated some opportunities to add to their rotation. But they're optimistic about the recent health updates regarding both Max Fried and Reynaldo López. Fried is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Wednesday. If he feels good, he could be activated to start against the Marlins this weekend.

López hasn’t felt any further discomfort since exiting Sunday’s start against the Mets with right forearm tightness. He is tentatively slated to pitch against the Marlins on Saturday.

If the Braves can reach the postseason with Chris Sale, Fried and López healthy, they will have a shot to win the World Series for the second time in four years. Their weak link throughout the season has been offense.

The Braves’ lineup will begin with Soler, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson.

“We’ve been struggling to score runs,” Snitker said. “So hopefully, [Soler] can come in and ignite this thing, and try to do what he did the last time he was here.”

Soler has hit .240 with 12 homers and a .749 OPS. That shouldn’t be a concern for those who remember what he did a few years ago. He was hitting .190 with 13 homers and a .655 OPS when the Braves acquired him from the Royals before the 2021 Trade Deadline.

The veteran hitter posted a .882 OPS and hit 14 homers over 242 plate appearances during the remainder of that regular season for Atlanta. His titanic blast that exited Houston’s Minute Maid Park in Game 6 of the 2021 World Series remains one of the most iconic moments in Atlanta sports history.

Jackson posted a 5.40 ERA over 36 appearances for the Giants. But he has limited opponents to a .206 on-base percentage while recording 13 strikeouts and issuing just one walk over his past nine innings (eight appearances).

“There’s a lot of guys here who played with both of them and they have a lot of respect for both of them,” Snitker said. “They kind of know who they are and what they’re all about. I think that’s big.”