MLB Player News

Belt (thumb) accepted his one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer Wednesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Belt spent the first 11 seasons of his career in San Francisco, and he'll remain with the Giants for at least one more year after accepting his qualifying offer. The 33-year-old missed time with various injuries in 2021, but it's unlikely that the fractured left thumb he suffered late in the season will affect his availability this spring. Belt appeared in 97 games last season and slashed .274/.378/.597 with 29 homers, 65 runs, 59 RBI and three stolen bases.

Blackmon exercised his $22 million player option for 2022 on Thursday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Blackmon's production decreased in 2021, as he slashed .270/.351/.411 with 13 home runs, 78 RBI, 76 runs and three stolen bases across 150 games. However, the 35-year-old should maintain a starting role with a prominent spot in the lineup as he prepares for his 12th season in Colorado.

Soler went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, two runs, a walk and a strikeout in Tuesday's 7-0 win over the Astros in Game 6 of the World Series.

Soler put Atlanta on the board in the top of the third inning Tuesday with a mammoth home run to left field, and the team clinched its first World Series title since 1995. The 29-year-old's performance against Houston earned him World Series MVP honors, as he hit .300 with three home runs, a double, six RBI and four runs across the last six games.

Soler hit a go-ahead pinch-hit homer in Game 4 of the World Series against the Astros.

Dansby Swanson tied the game at two with a one-out solo shot off Cristian Javier in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jorge Soler came off the bench to hit for Tyler Matzek one batter later and launched a solo homer of his own just past Yordan Alvarez and the left-field fence, giving Atlanta the lead. He's now hitting .240/.345/.600 with a pair of homers in nine games this postseason.

Soler is not in the lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the Astros on Saturday.

Soler was in the lineup for the first three games, twice at designated hitter and then Friday in right field for Game 3, the first of the series at Truist Park in Atlanta. He will be replaced in right by Joc Pederson on Saturday, but expect Soler to be back in the field again for Game 5 with lefty Framber Valdez slated to start for the Astros. Soler can return to DH if and when the series returns to Houston.

Pederson is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the World Series versus the Astros on Friday.

The 29-year-old started the first two games of the series in right field with Jorge Soler serving as the designated hitter, and Soler will take over in right now that Atlanta is back home. Pederson is 1-for-8 with three strikeouts against Houston so far but otherwise has a .909 OPS with three homers and nine RBI in the playoffs this year.

Soler went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two strikeouts in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Astros in Game 1 of the World Series.

Soler had come off the bench in each of the final two games of the NLCS against the Dodgers, but he served as the designated hitter and hit at the top of the order to begin the World Series. The 29-year-old hit a homer to lead off the game, his first home run of the postseason. He's a strong candidate to continue serving as the designated hitter at Minute Maid Park, but he'll likely have to share playing time in Atlanta's crowded outfield once the team returns to Truist Park.

Soler isn't starting Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Saturday.

Soler appeared off the bench in Thursday's Game 5 loss and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Joc Pederson will start in right field and bat sixth.

Soler isn't starting Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Thursday.

Soler will be available for Thursday's matchup after he was activated by Atlanta, but he'll take on a bench role during his first game back. Joc Pederson will remain in right field and bat sixth.

Soler (illness) was activated by Atlanta ahead of Game 5 of the NLCS on Thursday.

Soler was sidelined to begin the NLCS after he tested positive for COVID-19, but he'll be available for Game 5 of the series after being activated. He should be the favorite to start in right field, and he'll take the place of Cristian Pache on the NLCS roster.