2024 MLB trade deadline tracker and live updates: Deals so far, rumors and analysis

The trade

Atlanta Braves get: DH Jorge Soler, RHP Luke Jackson

San Francisco Giants get: LHP Tyler Matzek, 3B/OF Sabin Ceballos

Grant Brisbee: It looked like the Braves were going for a heartwarming reunion of their 2021 World Series team, getting Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson, but the goodwill was sucked out of the room when it was announced that Tyler Matzek was going back to the Giants. HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, ALEX ANTHOPOULOS, SIR?

In all seriousness, though, the deal makes sense for both sides … with a catch. Or a non-catch. But we’ll get to that. Soler is valuable to the Braves because of his bat, and the World Series MVP was one of the hottest hitters on the Giants in July, taking plenty of walks and hitting doubles and home runs. Since falling under the Mendoza Line on May 31, Soler has put up an .860 OPS. He’s probably still the hitter the Giants thought they were getting, and the hitter that the Braves desperately need.

Luke Jackson struggled mightily this season, and it’s my sincere hope that he doesn’t check social media that often. But in his last three outings, he showed off the sharpest slider he’s had with the Giants, so the Braves are willing to take a chance on an old friend.

As for the downside for the Braves, it sure looks like they’re also employing Marcell Ozuna. Either he’s going to be in the outfield or Soler is, and it isn’t likely to be pretty. Their need for offense was just that acute, though.

The Giants will shed payroll, and they now have a fighting chance of getting under the luxury tax threshold, especially if they trade Michael Conforto (a Blake Snell trade wouldn’t help them much, as Andrew Baggarly explains here).

The trade is also about opening up two roster spots. The Giants have been yo-yoing Spencer Bivens back and forth from Sacramento, even though he’s pitched well in both spots, and they were also unsure of how to get Marco Luciano at-bats now that he’s heated up in the minors. Now they have a spot.

As for the prospect, Sabin Ceballos, he was a 3rd-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, who ranked 13th on Keith Law’s preseason list, which seems much better than a player to be named later. The money shuffling is the priority for the Giants, though. This will give them the financial flexibility to finish second for Juan Soto this coming offseason.

Giants: B+

Braves: B

Read the full trade grade here.