Shushkewich: Cubs acquire Soroka from Nationals
The Chicago Cubs have acquired Junior National Team alum Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) from the Washington Nationals.
July 31, 2025
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
Michael Soroka has found a new home in the National League Central.
According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, the Washington Nationals right-hander has been traded to the Chicago Cubs for minor league outfielder Christian Franklin and infielder Ronny Cruz.
Soroka entered the 2024-25 offseason looking for a chance to work out of the rotation again. He found that opportunity with the Nationals. But at 44-64, the Nats remain at the bottom of the division, and Soroka’s one-year deal made him a prime target for the trade deadline.
This season, Soroka has found a good rhythm out of the rotation. Although he missed some time near the start of the regular season with a biceps injury, the right-hander has put up solid numbers. Through 81 1/3 innings and 16 starts, he owns a 4.87 ERA with a 1.131 WHIP.
Although the ERA numbers may have some fans scratching their heads, under the surface, Soroka’s numbers paint a prettier picture. He owns a 4.12 FIP, with the walks being limited to a stellar 2.7 BB/9 mark while striking out opposing hitters at a 9.6 K/9 clip. He’s also limited the bats to a 7.5 H/9 while allowing just 11 home runs this season, sitting right at the MLB average mark of 3.2%.
Opponents have mustered just a .697 OPS off the 6-foot-5 righty and own a .275 BABIP. Compared to 2024, he has the same batting average allowed (.224) but has seen drops in the OBP (.328 to .309) and SLG (.415 to .388) and has been on a heater as of late. Through his last four starts, Soroka has permitted just six earned runs through 18 innings, good for a 3.00 ERA and a 3.76 FIP.
Soroka has a stellar slurve in his arsenal. He owns a +8 pitching run value on the slurve and uses it to cross up batters, as evidenced by its 38.1% whiff rate. He also possesses a four-seam fastball, a changeup and a sinker that haven’t got as much lustre as his breaking pitch. But the right-hander is finding ways to use them to his advantage, posting a 3.32 xERA and a .218 xBA, both of which rank above the 75th percentile.
When signing with the Nats at the beginning of the 2025 campaign, Soroka was looking to build upon a 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox that was marred by inconsistency and injury.
Achilles injuries had kept him on the sidelines for most of 2021 through 2023 while he was with the Atlanta Braves.
Soroka has now turned his strong work with the Nats this season into an opportunity to pitch in the postseason, with the Cubs who are sitting neck and neck with the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the division. If both teams continue their current run, they will both make the playoffs – one as the division lead and one as a Wild Card – and Soroka will join fellow affiliated Canuck Jameson Taillon in October baseball.
As for his role, Soroka will tell you that all he wants to do is start games; it’s in his blood and one of the biggest reasons he signed with Washington this past winter. Luckily for him, the Cubs need some starting pitching with multiple arms on the IL, including Taillon, Javier Assad, and Justin Steele. So, there is a chance that he finds himself in the rotation with his new squad.
The Cubs could also use him in the bullpen, a role he found success in to finish the 2024 season (2.45 ERA through 25 2/3 innings).
Looking ahead, it’s a contract year for the Alberta product, who will strive for a strong stretch to finish out the year.
Soroka isn’t the first Canuck to be moved this trade deadline. That honour belongs to Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.). Both are free agents at the end of the season, so not only are the postseason aspirations on the line, but so are their future earnings.