July 31, 2025
By Kevin Glew
Cooperstowners in Canada
The Chicago Cubs have acquired Canadian right-hander Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals in exchange for infield prospect Ronny Cruz and minor league outfielder Christian Franklin.
The Cubs confirmed the deal early this morning.
Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) is headed to the Windy City after posting a 3-8 record with a 4.87 ERA in 16 starts for the Nationals this season. He has struck out 87 batters in 81 innings.
He permitted two runs in 3 1/3 innings to the Houston Astros in his most recent start on Tuesday. Prior to that, the 27-year-old righty had two strong starts in which he had only allowed two runs and five hits in 10 2/3 innings.
Soroka, who signed a one-year, $9-million contract with the Nats in December, prefers to start. And with starting pitchers Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, and Justin Steele on the injured list, the Cubs are likely to use Soroka in their rotation.
Soroka’s 16 starts this season represent his most since 2019. Earlier in the campaign, he missed six weeks after suffering a right biceps injury in a start against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 31.
The Junior National Team alum signed with the Nationals after spending 2024 with the woeful Chicago White Sox. After a rough start to the 2024 season as a starter with the Sox, he was moved to the bullpen and posted a 2.75 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 36 innings in 16 appearances.
A graduate of the Calgary Redbirds, Soroka was a first-round pick (28th overall) of the Atlanta Braves in 2015. In 2019, he went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 29 starts to win the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Tip O’Neill Award and finish second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Between 2020 and 2023, however, his career was curtailed by a series of injuries, most notably he tore his right Achilles tendon twice.
In all, Soroka has pitched in parts of six major league seasons.
Soroka is the second Canadian to be dealt ahead of this year’s MLB trade deadline. Slugger Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) was swapped to the Seattle Mariners by the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 24.
Good for Michael Soroka. Going to a good team and a fresh start.
Thanks for your comment, Bob.
Great trade for the Cubs. He will help for sure.
Yes, hopefully his shoulder injury is not long-term. Thanks for your comment.