The Chicago Cubs spent much of the past year searching for reliable starting pitching, and that quest continues as another arm slips away. According to multiple reports, longtime MLB hurler Michael Soroka has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, closing the door on what became a brief and disappointing chapter in Chicago.
The Cubs attempted to bolster their rotation at the July trade deadline, but sky-high prices for starters left them with few options. Their eventual move—acquiring Soroka from the Washington Nationals—never produced the results they hoped for. Soroka was injured just two innings into his Cubs debut, and despite making the postseason roster, he logged only 10 total innings in a Chicago uniform.
Once an All-Star and a sixth-place Cy Young Award finisher in 2019 with the Atlanta Braves, Soroka’s career has been defined by flashes of brilliance interrupted by setbacks. Multiple injuries—including his devastating 2020 Achilles tear—have limited his effectiveness during his seven years in the majors.
Now, the 28-year-old gets another chance to reestablish himself. Arizona’s deal, pending a physical, gives Soroka a fresh start and some job security as he tries to piece together a full, healthy season. The Diamondbacks have not publicly committed to using him as either a starter or reliever, but both roles are on the table.
While Soroka’s 4.87 ERA across 16 starts for Washington this year wasn’t ideal, his underlying metrics told a different story. His 87 strikeouts in 81.1 innings and a 4.18 FIP suggested that he pitched better than his ERA indicated. His most dominant work, however, came as a reliever for the Chicago White Sox last season, where he racked up 60 strikeouts in 36 innings, emerging as one of the most effective multi-inning bullpen threats in the league.
If Arizona leans on him out of the bullpen, they could unlock that weapon again. But with the high value of starting pitchers over a 162-game season, the Diamondbacks are expected to at least give him an early audition for a rotation spot.
For the Cubs, the acquisition of Soroka may ultimately be remembered as a footnote—or a regret. If the prospects they traded away to Washington, shortstop Ronny Cruz or outfielder Christian Franklin, develop into standout players, the move could become a cautionary tale for overpaying in desperation.
Still, Soroka believes his best baseball remains ahead of him, and now he’ll attempt to prove it in the desert. Arizona, fresh off competitive seasons, hopes this low-risk, high-upside signing can deliver a much-needed boost to their pitching depth.
