The Washington Nationals signed Canadian starting right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka to a one-year, $9 million deal on December 19, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported.
Soroka, 27, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has played five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Atlanta Braves from 2018-20 and in 2023 before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for left-handed pitcher Aaron Bummer heading to A-town and left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster, shortstop Nicky Lopez, shortstop Braden Shewmake and right-handed pitcher Riley Gowens going to the South Side in a five-player swap on November 16, 2023.
He missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons after receiving and undergoing a second surgery on his Achilles. He also did not receive a World Series championship ring in 2021 because he was not on the active roster.
The one-time All-Star is a client of ISE Baseball and began his professional career after he played his senior year at Bishop Carroll High School in Calgary, and was drafted 28th overall in the MLB June Amateur Draft before signing on July 7, 2015, for $1,974,700 and forgoed his commitment to the University of California, Berkeley.
Last season with the White Sox, Soroka went 0-10 in 25 appearances out of the bullpen and nine starts, posting a 4.74 ERA, throwing 79.2 innings, allowing 66 hits, 42 earned runs, 13 home runs, 44 walks, 84 strikeouts, and a 1.381 WHIP after they fell to 28-89 with manager Pedro Grifol and 13-32 with manager Grady Sizemore and ending the worst season in MLB history with their team record in last place in the American League Central Division at 41-121.
Soroka elected free agency on October 31 and was also placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain last season on July 19 prior to being activated on September 21.
The White Sox pitching staff with 35 pitchers between their starting rotation and bullpen posted a 13.4 WAR with a 4.67 ERA, 21 saves, throwing 1,420 innings, allowing 1,397 hits, 737 earned runs, 201 home runs, 643 walks, 1,366 strikeouts, and a 1.437 WHIP.
In Soroka’s four seasons with the Braves, he went 17-8 with a 5.8 WAR, posting a 3.32 ERA in 44 appearances and 43 starts, throwing 246.1 innings, allowing 230 hits, 91 earned runs, 24 home runs, 67 walks, 200 strikeouts, and a 1.206 WHIP.
Soroka will be competing in the starting rotation with MacKenzie Gore, Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker, DJ Herz, Jackson Rutledge, Cade Cavalli, and Josiah Gray during the 2025 Grapefruit League season under 2019 World Series champion manager Dave Martinez.
The Nationals will play their first spring training game on March 22 as a split-squad game against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of The Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. No game start time has yet been announced.
Washington will open up the 2025 regular season against the 2024 National League East Division champion, Philadelphia Phillies, at home on March 27 at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
