The Cubs had a significant need for pitching coming into the deadline. Chicago addressed that on July 30, as the Cubs acquired Michael Soroka from the Nationals. In exchange, the Nationals received outfielder Christian Franklin, who’s having a strong year in Triple-A, as well as projectable shortstop Ronny Cruz.
The Cubs’ Return
- SP Michael Soroka (4.87 ERA, 87 K over 81 IP)
Last season, Michael Soroka, once a top starter with the Braves, found success as a reliever in the bullpen with the White Sox. Soroka simplified his arsenal, leaning less on the two-seamer and more on the four-seam fastball that played well up in the zone.
The Canadian parlayed that success into a one-year, $9MM deal.
Despite the 4.87 ERA, the numbers on Soroka are not bad. The 27-year-old averaged over a strikeout per inning, limited well-hit contact (6.7% Barrel%), and limited the walks in what’s been a year that can’t be defined by one number.
Soroka has refined his arsenal further in 2025. Like last season, he’s leaned heavily on a low-90s four-seamer with life and arm-side run, a pitch that plays better than it looks on a radar gun. He can also change looks and speeds by using the sinker and changeup, a combined 20%.
The big jump for Soroka this season has come by the way of a powerful slurve, a slider with a very different shape compared to the one he mainly used in his early years. It’s a pitch he sparingly used in 2023 and 2024, and the results have been great. Opposing hitters are batting .124 with a 38.1% Whiff%.
His slurve is a nasty weapon against hitters on any side. Thanks to its movement, as the slurve just dips down right on the back foot, it can get to lefties while also running away from right-handers.
Soroka is a free agent after this season.
The Nationals’ Return
- SS Ronny Cruz (.270/.314/.431, 2 HR and 18 XBH over 48 GP (ACL))
- OF Christian Franklin (.265/.393/.427, 8 HR and 32 XBH over 86 GP (AAA))
Arguably, the big piece in this trade was Ronny Cruz, the Cubs’ third-round pick back in 2024.
Cruz lit it up at the MLB Draft Combine, as the league stated he produced some of the highest exit velocities among prospects there last year.
A 6’2” shortstop, Cruz put up interesting numbers, including 10 stolen bases and 18 extra-base hits as an 18-year-old in the Arizona Complex League.
The other piece in the deal is Christian Franklin, a 5’9” outfielder in Triple-A. Franklin was a fourth-round pick by the Cubs out of the University of Arkansas four years ago.
Franklin was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft last year but was not taken. This year, though, has been a strong season for the 25-year-old, who, as of the trade, was second in the International League in walks (63), four fewer than IL leader Jakob Marsee. He does not chase much, as he swung at just 18.5% of pitches out of the zone.
He did hit for some power in the Minors, including 12 across 99 games two years ago. Franklin, though, is a heavy ground-ball hitter who puts bat on ball, willing to go inside out and take the ball the other way if need be.
Analysis
It’s not a bad return for a pitcher on an expiring deal.
Washington picked up an analytical darling in Franklin, who had no path to playing time in Chicago, plus a projectable bat in Cruz.
The Cubs, meanwhile, came into July with a significant need for pitching. Justin Steele is done for the year, while Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad are on the IL. Assad, though, is currently out on a rehab assignment.
Soroka isn’t the “big” pickup. However, he’s been very productive as an MLB starter this season and helps fill out the back end of the Cubs’ rotation.
Chicago’s received solid returns from rookie Cade Horton and 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd but has seen inconsistent production from the likes of Colin Rea and Ben Brown.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including news on the recent trades for Jhoan Duran and Ryan Helsley.