<p>The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>&#8216; rotation has been one of the biggest question marks this season. While the club has seen some players rise to the occasion, such as Kevin Gausman and Eric Lauer as of late, there are some concerns that the rotation may need reinforcements down the stretch.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Enter Calgary, Alberta product Michael Soroka.</p>
<h3>Scouting Report</h3>
<p>A former All-Star and Rookie of the Year finalist with the Atlanta Braves back in 2019, Soroka was one of the game&#8217;s brightest stars on the mound before a slew of Achilles injuries sent him to the sidelines. He wouldn&#8217;t suit up in the big leagues from 2021 through 2022, returning for seven games in 2023. The Braves would ship him that winter to the Chicago White Sox because of an overcrowded rotation picture, and he got an opportunity to start but struggled on the mound out of the gate before another injury (shoulder) and a late return saw him finish the season in the White Sox bullpen.</p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
<p>Looking for another opportunity to start, Soroka signed with the Washington Nationals this past winter on a one-year deal. Through 15 starts this season, he owns a 4.85 ERA and a 4.05 FIP while producing a 1.128 WHIP. Soroka has seen a strong return on his strikeout numbers, authoring a 9.6 K/9, and has commanded his pitches well to the tune of a 2.8 BB/9. Ironically, he leads the league in hit by pitches (13), but those haven&#8217;t come back to bite him, as he has allowed just 42 runs through 78 innings while keeping hitters to a .221/.308/379 slash line and a .687 OPS.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Soroka&#39;s 2Ks in the 2nd. <a href="https://t.co/BrVaamtQpi">pic.twitter.com/BrVaamtQpi</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1948057039038771543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Working with a four-pitch mix, Soroka&#8217;s fastball is the most used offering (45%), but his slurve is the most effective pitch, producing a +9 run value this season. The breaking pitch has held opponents to a .135 xBA and a .205 xSLG while producing a 38.6% whiff rate and a 43.9% strikeout rate as well. He mixes in a changeup and sinker to round out the arsenal, but the slurve is his go-to pitch.</p>
<p>While <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/canadian-pitcher-michael-soroka-dominates-in-first-spring-start-for-the-washington-nationals">Soroka&#8217;s</a> ERA is a bit high, the underlying numbers are strong if you remove a few outliers. A seven-run outing against the Boston Red Sox in early July inflated his ERA above the 5.00 mark, but this season, he has mostly sat in the 3-4 earned run range per game (eight of his 15 starts). Through his last three starts, he&#8217;s allowed just four earned runs through 14 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts, producing a 2.45 ERA in the process while not allowing a single home run. The Nationals have struggled to give him any run support this year, hence the gaudy 3-8 record, but Soroka&#8217;s numbers are consistent with a back-end arm that should receive some interest this trade deadline.</p>
<h3>Contract Status</h3>
<p>Soroka is a pure rental, with his <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/the-nationals-sign-canadian-pitcher-mike-soroka-to-a-one-year-deal">one-year pact</a> with the Nationals set to expire at the season&#8217;s end. Signing for $9 million this past winter, any team that acquires the right-hander will likely be on the hook for roughly $3-4 million that remains.</p>
<h3>How does Soroka help the Blue Jays?</h3>
<p>If the Jays are looking for a depth arm that can make starts as needed or provide depth in the bullpen, then Soroka is the right man for the job.</p>
<p>He put up strong numbers to finish the 2024 campaign in the White Sox relief corps following his return from the IL (three earned runs allowed through 11 2/3 innings), and he&#8217;s currently riding a hot streak in the Nationals rotation, should the Blue Jays choose to use him there.</p>
<p>Eric Lauer has slotted in nicely with the Jays&#8217; rotation and acquiring Soroka likely doesn&#8217;t usurp him from that role right now, but considering the Blue Jays starters are on the veteran side, having Soroka lurking in the bullpen, which has its fair share of injury woes, isn&#8217;t a bad idea to have in the back pocket.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Soroka,  Poop-Inducing Slurve. 💩</p>
<p>As a hitter, you know it&#39;s bad  when the broadcast team instantly cracks up laughing. 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/bOCjcYEpwb">pic.twitter.com/bOCjcYEpwb</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1939148418036732131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The risk is that Soroka will find himself on the IL, as he has dealt with injuries for most of his career and missed time earlier this season with a biceps strain. It&#8217;s an issue that has dogged the Jays&#8217; bullpen this season as well.</p>
<p>Overall, it&#8217;s a low-risk move for the Jays to add someone like Soroka to the big league roster in at least a bullpen capacity with the ability to spot start and provides more stability for a team looking to make the postseason again this year.</p>
<hr />
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

The <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>' rotation has been one of the biggest question marks this season. While the club has seen some players rise to the occasion, such as Kevin Gausman and Eric Lauer as of late, there are some concerns that the rotation may need reinforcements down the stretch.



Enter Calgary, Alberta product Michael Soroka.
<h3>Scouting Report</h3>
A former All-Star and Rookie of the Year finalist with the Atlanta Braves back in 2019, Soroka was one of the game's brightest stars on the mound before a slew of Achilles injuries sent him to the sidelines. He wouldn't suit up in the big leagues from 2021 through 2022, returning for seven games in 2023. The Braves would ship him that winter to the Chicago White Sox because of an overcrowded rotation picture, and he got an opportunity to start but struggled on the mound out of the gate before another injury (shoulder) and a late return saw him finish the season in the White Sox bullpen.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
Looking for another opportunity to start, Soroka signed with the Washington Nationals this past winter on a one-year deal. Through 15 starts this season, he owns a 4.85 ERA and a 4.05 FIP while producing a 1.128 WHIP. Soroka has seen a strong return on his strikeout numbers, authoring a 9.6 K/9, and has commanded his pitches well to the tune of a 2.8 BB/9. Ironically, he leads the league in hit by pitches (13), but those haven't come back to bite him, as he has allowed just 42 runs through 78 innings while keeping hitters to a .221/.308/379 slash line and a .687 OPS.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1948057039038771543

Working with a four-pitch mix, Soroka's fastball is the most used offering (45%), but his slurve is the most effective pitch, producing a +9 run value this season. The breaking pitch has held opponents to a .135 xBA and a .205 xSLG while producing a 38.6% whiff rate and a 43.9% strikeout rate as well. He mixes in a changeup and sinker to round out the arsenal, but the slurve is his go-to pitch.

While <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/canadian-pitcher-michael-soroka-dominates-in-first-spring-start-for-the-washington-nationals">Soroka's</a> ERA is a bit high, the underlying numbers are strong if you remove a few outliers. A seven-run outing against the Boston Red Sox in early July inflated his ERA above the 5.00 mark, but this season, he has mostly sat in the 3-4 earned run range per game (eight of his 15 starts). Through his last three starts, he's allowed just four earned runs through 14 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts, producing a 2.45 ERA in the process while not allowing a single home run. The Nationals have struggled to give him any run support this year, hence the gaudy 3-8 record, but Soroka's numbers are consistent with a back-end arm that should receive some interest this trade deadline.
<h3>Contract Status</h3>
Soroka is a pure rental, with his <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/the-nationals-sign-canadian-pitcher-mike-soroka-to-a-one-year-deal">one-year pact</a> with the Nationals set to expire at the season's end. Signing for $9 million this past winter, any team that acquires the right-hander will likely be on the hook for roughly $3-4 million that remains.
<h3>How does Soroka help the Blue Jays?</h3>
If the Jays are looking for a depth arm that can make starts as needed or provide depth in the bullpen, then Soroka is the right man for the job.

He put up strong numbers to finish the 2024 campaign in the White Sox relief corps following his return from the IL (three earned runs allowed through 11 2/3 innings), and he's currently riding a hot streak in the Nationals rotation, should the Blue Jays choose to use him there.

Eric Lauer has slotted in nicely with the Jays' rotation and acquiring Soroka likely doesn't usurp him from that role right now, but considering the Blue Jays starters are on the veteran side, having Soroka lurking in the bullpen, which has its fair share of injury woes, isn't a bad idea to have in the back pocket.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1939148418036732131

The risk is that Soroka will find himself on the IL, as he has dealt with injuries for most of his career and missed time earlier this season with a biceps strain. It's an issue that has dogged the Jays' bullpen this season as well.

Overall, it's a low-risk move for the Jays to add someone like Soroka to the big league roster in at least a bullpen capacity with the ability to spot start and provides more stability for a team looking to make the postseason again this year.

<hr />

<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="324" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="web-content-promocard"></div>

Blue Jays trade deadline target: Michael Soroka

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (4) scores after a wild pitch in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners during game four of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at T-Mobile Park.

Recent articles from Tyson Shushkewich

Breaking News