Blue Jays acquire Soriano from Angels

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired right-handed starter Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels.

August 3, 2026

Official Toronto Blue Jays News Release

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired RHP José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for INF Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti Jr., and RHP Angel Rivero.

Soriano, 27, has made 22 starts for the Angels this season, recording a 3.29 ERA with a 3.81 FIP, a 1.25 WHIP, a .217 opponent average, a 24.9% strikeout rate, and a 2.1 fWAR. Among qualified AL pitchers this season, Soriano ranks second in groundball rate (52.3%), fourth in whiff rate (31.4%), tied for seventh in wins (9), and ninth in ERA.

Soriano was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for March/April, after going 5-1 with a 0.84 ERA, 49 strikeouts, a 0.94 WHIP, and a .164 opponent average over seven starts. The right-hander from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was signed by the Angels as an international free agent in 2016, going on to make his MLB debut for the club in 2023. Over four MLB seasons, Soriano has gone 26-27 while posting a 3.72 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP, a .231 opponent average, 432 strikeouts, and a 59.8% groundball rate across 113 career appearances (73 starts).

Nimmala, 20, has split the 2026 season between four levels of the Blue Jays system, making stops with the FCL Blue Jays, Single-A Dunedin, High-A Vancouver, and double-A New Hampshire. The right-handed hitting shortstop has combined to slash .265/.364/.453 over 62 total games this year, recording 18 doubles, eight home runs, and 34 RBIs for an .817 OPS. The Tampa, Fla., native was selected by the Blue Jays 20th overall in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Strawberry Crest High School (FL) and has suited up for 281 MiLB contests over the last four years, posting a .761 OPS with 117 extra-base hits and 145 RBIs.

Micheletti Jr., 24, played in 93 contests with double-A New Hampshire, slashing .251/.347/.454 with 20 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 45 RBIs, an 11.5% walk rate, a 17.5% strikeout rate, and an .800 OPS. The left-handed hitter from Wilmington, Delaware, was selected by the Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Virginia Tech. Over three seasons in the Jays system, has played in 219 games slashing .244/.368/.438 with 50 doubles, six triples, 30 home runs, 127 RBIs, 137 walks, 154 strikeouts, and an .806 OPS.

Rivero, 19, made 12 appearances (nine starts) for the Rookie-Ball FCL Blue Jays, recording a 2.36 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP, a .226 opponent average, and 52 strikeouts over 42 innings. Rivero was signed by the Blue Jays as an international free agent in 2024, from Cumana, Venezuela. The right-hander has spent three seasons in the Jays system, posting a 3.66 ERA with 132 strikeouts over 34 appearances (30 starts).