San Diego Padres: Yangervis Solarte released from Hanshin Tigers

Former San Diego Padres utility man Yangervis Solarte has seen his time in Japan come to an end, as he was released by the Hanshin Tigers.

For three and a half years, Yangervis Solarte was a solid utility man for the San Diego Padres. While he was nominally considered to be the Padres starting third baseman, he appeared around the infield, and even got some time in left. He was a solid player during his time in San Diego, the type of piece that any team would seemingly want to have.

However, after leaving the Padres, Solarte has been a baseball vagabond. He was traded to the Blue Jays, and became a free agent following the 2018 campaign. Solarte signed with the Giants, but was released after 78 unimpressive plate appearances. A minor league deal with the Marlins lasted for 23 days before he was released and headed to Japan. Now, Solarte is again looking for an opportunity, as he was released by the Hanshin Tigers.

It is interesting that Solarte would not want to return to the Tigers’ top squad in Nippon Professional Baseball. He did not exactly perform well in his 80 plate appearances there, but was also rushed into the lineup once he arrived in Japan. Nonetheless, his .188/.275/.406 batting line certainly made that demotion necessary.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Solarte did not exactly perform well with the Giants either this season. In those aforementioned 78 plate appearances, he produced a .205/.247/.315 batting line, hitting five homers and one homer. However, he did play well for the Marlins AAA team, producing a .314/.345/.451 batting line with four extra base hits in 55 plate appearances.

Chances are, with that showing in AAA, as well as his defensive versatility, some team will give Solarte a look for 2020. It will likely be a minor league deal, but he is the type of player that can prove to be a valuable asset off the bench for any franchise.

Of course, for Solarte, the potential location may matter more than his fit in the lineup. His wife had passed away in 2016, leaving him and three young daughters behind. While he returned to the Padres lineup and performed well, remaining close to his young family could make a difference in a possible landing spot.

Former San Diego Padres utility man Yangervis Solarte has been a baseball vagabond over the past two years. Maybe in 2020, he’ll find a home.