What should the Miami Marlins with a major upcoming free agent?

We wrote quite a bit about Miami Marlins designated hitter Jorge Soler this season. I called his bounceback season by the way. I'm sorry but I couldn't resist to point that out. It's safe to say that not many Fish fans are disappointed with Soler this season. Just a reminder, last season he hit .207/.295/.400 in 72 games and 270 AB. He did have 13 home runs and 34 RBI. He still had power, but the rest wasn't good. He's been much better this season. There's just one problem...

The Miami Marlins can lose designated hitter Jorge Soler after the season

Jorge Soler has a player option for $9 million for next season. That's a pay cut from his $15 million salary this season. It's not hard to see how it doesn't make much sense for Soler to pick it up. Why take a pay cut when he just had a better season? The obvious question is what he can actually get in free agency?

Soler used to be a top prospect with the Chicago Cubs, but health and lack of available playing time hurt him quite a bit. In his time with the Chicago Cubs from 2014 to 2016, he batted .258/.328/.434 with 27 home runs and 98 RBI in 211 games and 682 AB. That was underwhelming to say the least, and saw him traded to the Kansas City Royals.

Jorge Soler spent 2017-2021 with the Kansas City Royals. 2017-2018 continued his reputation as an underwhelming injury-prone played, as he was only able to play in 96 combined games. He batted .228/.322/.403 with 11 home runs and 34 RBI to make things worse. 2019 was a "make or break" season for Soler, and he finally delivered. He batted .265/.354/.569 with 48 home runs and 117 RBI, in 162 games and 589 AB. He was finally healthy and was a moster power hitter.

Soler couldn't follow that up in 2020, as he batted just .228/.326/.443 with 8 home runs and 24 RBI in 43 games and 149 AB. Things didn't get much better for him in 2021, as he batted .192/.288/.370 94 games and 308 AB. With 2019 looking more and more like an outlier, he got things back on track after a mid-season trade to the Atlanta Braves. He batted .269/.358/.524 in 55 games and 208 AB. He then won the World Series MVP award.

I already covered Soler's 2022, and now here we are in 2023. Jorge Soler is currently batting .241/.331/.505, with 32 home runs and 67 RBI in 119 games and 440 AB. He's incredibly inconsistent and his health is a major issue, he also has elite power... There's certainly a two or three year deal out there for him in the $13 million range. Kim Ng shouldn't match that.