Phillies rumors: Club interested in reigning World Series MVP outfielder

The Phillies are reportedly interested in 2021 World Series MVP Jorge Soler.

With Andrew McCutchen a free-agent, the Philadelphia Phillies could soon replace the former National League Most Valuable Player with a World Series Most Valuable Player.

According to baseball scribe Héctor Gómez, the Phillies have joined a list of eight teams interested in outfielder Jorge Soler. The 30-year-old Cuban native slugged a double, three home runs and six RBI in the last year’s Fall Classic, helping him earn individual MVP honors and the Atlanta Braves their fourth World Series championship in franchise history.

The other seven teams in the mix for the eight-year veteran free-agent include the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers.

Soler’s best career regular season came in 2019, when he played in all 162 games and slugged an American League-best 48 home runs — along with 33 doubles and 117 RBI — while a member of the Kansas City Royals. However, Soler’s most iconic career moment came in Game 6 of the recent World Series with the Braves —a no-doubt, three-run home run.

Through 661 career games, Soler is a .246/.331/.465 hitter with 121 home runs and 343 RBI. Soler is reportedly looking for a three-to-five-year deal in free agency; currently, reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper is the only Phillies outfielder signed long-term.

If Soler were to sign with the Phillies, he would play opposite Harper in the corner outfielder. While most of Soler’s time in the field has been in right, he logged innings in left field in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons — fielding 371 and 35 perfect, error-less innings respectively as a member of the Chicago Cubs and Royals.