Mike Soroka Signs With Washington Nationals
Free-agent right-hander Mike Soroka agreed to a contract with the Washington Nationals on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported. Robert Murray of FanSided reported that it will be a one-year, $9 million deal. The Nationals intend on using him as a starting pitcher. The Mets were also rumored to be interested in Soroka as another reclamation project.
Soroka is looking to revive his career after having only pitched 115 innings since 2019. The 2019 season saw Soroka earn a trip to the All-Star Game and place second in Rookie of the Year voting behind a 2.68 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings for the Atlanta Braves. His star looked to be on the rise, but in the 2020 season, he only pitched 13 2/3 innings before tearing his Achilles, then missing both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, re-tearing the same tendon. His 2023 return to the Atlanta Braves was not successful, posting a 6.40 ERA over 32 innings with only 29 strikeouts to 12 walks.
The 2024 season was a tale of two pitchers, with Soroka struggling in the early part of the season with the Chicago White Sox as a starter, then becoming a reliever and seeing his numbers take an upward swing. As a starter, he pitched to a 6.39 ERA over 43.2 innings with 24 walks to 24 strikeouts. Once he committed to being a reliever full-time, he pitched to a 2.75 ERA over 16 games, striking out 60 batters over 36 innings. While strikeouts were never a big part of his game, his turn as a reliever showed that he has the ability to limit contact and generate strikeouts.
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