The Nationals will bring Michael Soroka back to the NL East in 2025. The 27-year-old reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Nats on December 19. The move likely gives Soroka another crack at becoming a starter after succeeding with the White Sox as a reliever.
A Look at Soroka
Last winter, Michael Soroka was shipped to the White Sox as part of a 40-man roster dump by the Braves. Soroka was shipped alongside Jared Shuster, Braden Shewmake, and others in the deal that sent Aaron Bummer to the Braves.
While Bummer played an integral role in the Braves’ bullpen in 2024, Soroka did the same with the Sox. Although, that wasn’t the initial plan.
Soroka, a top starter as a rookie in 2019, suffered multiple Achilles tendon tears in 2020 and 2021, which kept him off a Major League mound for almost three seasons. He returned in 2023 but his numbers (6.40 ERA, 1.48 WHIP over seven starts) were not great.
Much like in 2023, Soroka struggled as a starter with the White Sox. Soroka made nine starts as a starter and gave up four or more runs in six. He moved to the bullpen in mid-May and stayed there for the remainder of the year. A shoulder straing kept him out for two months in the summer.
When Soroka moved to the bullpen, the righty became a different pitcher. Soroka ditched his sinker and largely ignored the changeup, opting to use just the four-seamer and slider.
His four-seamer played up as a reliever, as he gained about one MPH in velocity and from June onward, had more IVB (16.3”) than compared to his season average (16.2”).
What more was that Soroka turned into a dangerous reliever. Soroka’s slider showed above-average vertical break, jumping down and fooling hitters as a strong weapon off his four-seamer.
In total, Soroka posted a 2.75 ERA, 60 strikeouts, and 20 walks over 36 innings out of the bullpen. His 15.0 K/9 from June 1 through the end of the season was best among pitchers with 10+ appearances.
Despite the off start, Soroka posted an above-average Hard Hit% (35.2%). He didn’t have a high chase rate by and large, thanks to his heavy reliance on the sinker as a starter. However, Soroka’s slider is very capable of getting hitters to chase out and front.
Despite the success as a reliever, Soroka is years removed from being an elite starter. Soroka posted a tidy 2.68 ERA with 142 strikeouts over 174.2 IP as a rookie in 2019. Since then, Soroka has yet to throw more than 50 IP as a starter in a single MLB season.
Per reports, the Nationals signed Michael Soroka to a one-year deal worth $9MM.
Analysis
It’s starter money for Soroka, who will join a Nationals rotation that could use the depth. Heading into the offseason, we noted the Nationals only had four “locks” for their 2025 rotation: MacKenzie Gore, DJ Herz, Mitchell Parker, and Jake Irvin. Josiah Gray had Tommy John surgery in July and will likely miss most, if not all, of 2025.
The move fills a need for the Nationals, and it’s a cost-effective transaction. Plus, it gives Soroka A) a chance to start again and B) possibly cash in after 2025 if he can pitch well. Soroka will be 28 after the 2025 campaign.
It will, however, be interesting to see how Soroka leverages his stuff next season. Soroka does have an effective four-seamer, one with carry and netted a significant amount of whiffs as a reliever (39.4% Whiff% in September). However, that was in limited usage, when he could really make good use out of a fastball/slider 1-2 combo.
As a starting pitcher, Soroka will need to use the changeup and sinker more. But, difference with regards to how each pitch is used will be interesting to see.
Soroka’s signing marks the third notable starter signing over a two-day period. On December 18, the White Sox signed ex-Brewer Bryse Wilson, while the Mets will look towards Griffin Canning as a reclamation project.