The Chicago Cubs have traded for Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka. The 27-year-old pitcher has made 16 starts this season and has posted a 4.87 ERA in 81.1 innings. However, he's run into some bad luck as the right-hander's expected ERA currently stands at 3.32.
Soroka has an above average strikeout rate this season at 25.4%. He also doesn't walk many guys, averaging less than three free passes per nine innings. The righty has a 1.13 WHIP, ranking 13th best in the National League among starters with at least 80 innings pitched so far in 2025.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal first reported the deal Wednesday night.
Soroka spent the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox and although his overall season was poor he did find success out of the bullpen. In 16 games as a reliever Soroka posted a 2.75 ERA with a 39.0 K% in 36 innings of work.
So, the Cubs can use him in the rotation or out of the pen, depending on other moves before the trade deadline and the availability of other pitchers who are currently recovering from injuries.
Soroka's best stretch of 2025 came during the month of June. In five starts he recorded a 3.49 ERA in 28.1 innings. He's been fairly consistent as of late, but Soroka hasn't been going too deep in games. He's only allowed six earned runs combined in his last four starts, but has pitched a total of 18 innings.
Still, if you're the Cubs you take the effectiveness anywhere you can get it from.
Overall in his career, Soroka has a 3.91 ERA in 407.1 innings. He made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2018 and was then an All-Star in 2019.
ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported that Triple-A outfielder Christian Franklin and 18-year-old Ronny Cruz were sent over to the Nationals for Soroka.
Cubs Grade: C+
Nationals Grade: A
The Cubs added a starting pitcher who could be an underrated pickup based on his peripherals. Soroka has a good strikeout rate and can get better results with an upgraded defense behind him. However, his injury history does raise some concerns and recent velocity trending down is a red flag.
The Nationals got a decent prospect in Ronny Cruz after paying Soroka for four months. Pretty good value after signing Soroka to a one-year deal worth $9 million.
