Ex-Marlins slugger Soler signs with Giants; arrest in theft of Jackie Robinson statue

Free agent outfielderDH Jorge Soler, who is coming off an All-Star season with the Marlins, agreed to a three-year,

$42 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, major-league sources told The Athletic.

After spending the past two seasons with the Marlins, Soler opted out of the final year of his deal in November. Thanks to reaching all incentives based on plate appearances in 2023, he would have received a $13 million salary in 2024 under the old contract.

Soler, a 31-year-old native of Cuba, is a righthanded hitter who slugged 36 homers last year. It was the second-highest total of his career; he led the

American League with 48 homers for Kansas City in 2019.

The Athletic noted that the Giants, eager to add a power bat, haven’t had a player who hit 30 homers in a season since Barry Bonds hit 45 in 2004.

The Giants have pledged to upgrade their outfield defense this season, which means that Soler could see a lot of duty as a designated hitter. He played right field in 32 games for Miami last season and was DH in 102 games.

Last year, Soler hit .250 with a .341 on-base percentage, a .512 slugging percentage and 75 RBI in 137 games.

ARREST IN WICHITA

Police in Kansas announced Tuesday the arrest of a 45-year-old man in the theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue that later was found dismantled and burned.

Wichita police Lt. Aaron Moses said Ricky Alderete had been taken into custody earlier in an unrelated case and was charged Monday in the theft.

Moses said there was no evidence it was was a "hate-motivated crime” but rather the intent was to sell the metal for scrap.

Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan said it was “only the first arrest” and that there were more to come.

"When you try to take something from this community, it won’t tolerate it,” he said, adding that he would share more details after more suspects are in custody.

Thieves cut the bronze statue from its base last month at a park in Wichita. Only the statue’s feet were left at McAdams Park, where about 600 children play in a youth baseball league called League 42, which is named after Robinson’ s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he broke the major leagues’ color barrier in 1947.

Fire crews found burned remnants of the statue five days later while responding to a trash-can fire at another park about seven miles away. Police said the theft of the statue, which had an estimated value of $75,000, was captured on surveillance video.

Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Dillon said the suspect was jailed on $150,000 bond on charges of felony theft, aggravated criminal damage to property, identity theft and making false information.

Jail records also list charges that include contempt of court, kidnapping and a probation violation. The suspect has a criminal record that includes burglary and theft, state correction department records show.

Asked how many others might face charges, Moses said three people were seen on the surveillance video. He also noted that the statue was taken to a location where others were present.