In a move to bolster their starting rotation, the Washington Nationals have signed free agent pitcher Michael Soroka to a one-year, $9 million contract. The deal, announced Thursday, brings the former All-Star to the nation’s capital as he looks to resurrect his injury-plagued career.
Soroka, a 27-year-old right-hander, is coming off a disappointing 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox in which he posted a 4.74 ERA across 25 appearances, including nine starts. The Atlanta Braves’ 2015 first-round pick went 0-10 for a White Sox team that set the modern MLB record with 121 losses.
Betting on Upside Potential
Despite his recent struggles, the Nationals are banking on Soroka recapturing the form that made him a Cy Young contender earlier in his career. In 2019, his sophomore season, the Canadian hurler went 13-4 with a sparkling 2.68 ERA, finishing second in the NL Cy Young voting.
“We believe Michael still has the ability to be a frontline starter in this league. Our scouts saw flashes of his old self last year. With improved health and a fresh opportunity, we think he can be a real difference-maker in our rotation.”
– Nationals GM Mike Rizzo
However, a series of injuries, including two tears of his right Achilles tendon, have limited Soroka to just 19 MLB appearances since that breakout 2019 campaign. He missed the entire 2021 and 2022 seasons while battling various ailments.
A Calculated Risk
For the rebuilding Nationals, signing Soroka represents a calculated gamble. If healthy, he could provide a steadying veteran presence to complement a young rotation featuring the likes of MacKenzie Gore and Jake Irvin. His $9 million salary, while not insignificant, is a reasonable price to pay for a pitcher with Soroka’s upside.
- Best-case scenario: Soroka regains All-Star form, stabilizes the rotation
- Worst-case scenario: Injuries persist, Nats eat $9M with little on-field impact
The move fits Rizzo’s pattern of pursuing high-risk, high-reward players to accelerate Washington’s rebuilding efforts. The GM has not shied away from signing talented but injury-prone starters, such as Garrett Crochet and Sean Manaea last winter. Both moves paid dividends as the Nats improved from 62 to 77 wins in 2024.
Pivotal Prove-It Year
For Soroka, this deal offers a prime opportunity to prove he still belongs in an MLB rotation. The one-year term will allow him to rebuild his value and re-enter the market in a stronger position next offseason. But he must show he can stay healthy over a full season.
“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity with the Nationals. I know the past few years haven’t gone how I hoped, but I’m confident I still have a lot of great baseball ahead of me. I can’t wait to get to work with my new teammates.”
– Michael Soroka
If Soroka can rediscover his 2019 All-Star form, this signing could prove to be one of the savviest of the offseason. Nationals fans will certainly be hoping the Canadian right-hander can provide a much-needed boost to a rotation that ranked 24th in ERA last season.
At just 27 years old, time is still on Soroka’s side. But after three consecutive injury-marred campaigns, this upcoming season will be pivotal in determining his long-term outlook. The Nationals are betting that a healthy Soroka can not only bolster their 2025 playoff chances, but also serve as a valuable veteran leader as the club’s promising young arms find their footing at the major league level.
For now, the baseball world will wait to see if Rizzo’s $9 million roll of the dice pays off. Will Soroka reemerge as an ace-caliber arm, or will injuries continue to derail a once-promising career? The 2025 season will go a long way toward answering that question in the nation’s capital.
