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The Nationals sign Canadian pitcher Michael Soroka to a one-year deal
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Photo credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Dec 19, 2024, 20:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 19, 2024, 20:22 EST
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A Canadian pitcher is off the market.
No, not Nick Pivetta, who the Blue Jays are reportedly interested in, but reliever Michael Soroka. On Thursday afternoon, it was reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that the right-handed pitcher has signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Washington Nationals.
The Calgary, Alberta native was selected 28th overall in the 2015 draft by the Atlanta Braves. After making five starts in the 2018 season, Soroka became a valuable member of the rotation in 2019, where he had a 2.68 ERA and a 3.45 FIP in 174.2 innings pitched for 4 fWAR.
Unfortunately, that has been the high point of the 27-year-old’s career so far. In August 2020, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, suffered a setback in 2021, before re-tearing it in June 2021, missing all of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Soroka returned to the Braves in 2023, where he had a 6.40 ERA and a 6.56 FIP in 32.1 innings pitched.
Soroka was traded to the Chicago White Sox before the 2024 season. As you may know, the 2024 White Sox were one of the worst teams in modern history, with Soroka posting a 4.74 ERA and a 4.95 FIP in 79.2 innings pitched. After his first nine games (all starts), he had a 6.39 ERA and a 6.76 FIP in 43.2 innings pitched, with a 12.4 K% and BB%.
However, the 27-year-old found success when he transitioned to the bullpen, posting a 2.75 ERA and FIP in 36 innings pitched, with a 39 K% and a 13 BB%. That K% in particular is interesting, as Soroko’s career K% before transitioning to the bullpen was just 18.5%.
Soroka is joining a team that is on the rise, even though they won’t quite be postseason contenders this season. It’s a good opportunity to showcase what he has out of the bullpen as the Nationals non-tendered Kyle Finnegan, their closer the past two seasons. If Soroka finds success in 2025, there is a realistic chance that playoff teams around the league would be interested in trading for his services.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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