The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with one-time All-Star pitcher Michael Soroka, ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan first reported on Monday morning.
Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro confirmed that Soroka was inked with the expectation that he starts for the D-backs. They will continue looking for another starter, Gambadoro added.
The deal, which was reported at the start of the winter meetings in Orlando, is for one year. MLB.com reported it is worth $7.5 million and up to $9.5 million with performance bonuses.
Soroka is a 28-year-old right-hander who split time between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs in 2025.
He made 16 starts with Washington ahead of the trade deadline, pitching to a 4.87 ERA and 4.16 FIP (fielding-independent pitching). His 25% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate were both better than league average.
The Nationals traded Soroka to the Cubs for a pair of prospects, although Soroka suffered a right shoulder strain shortly into his Cubs tenure — he’s suffered a shoulder strain in back-to-back seasons.
He came back from the injured list to a bullpen role at the end of the season, as in six appearances (one start), he worked a 1.08 ERA with no earned runs in relief.
Soroka first broke out in 2018-19 for the Atlanta Braves, making the All-Star Game in 2019 and finishing sixth in the Cy Young voting and second in the Rookie of the Year chase.
The 2025 first-round pick tore his right Achilles twice, however, keeping him out for all of 2021-22 after he made three starts in 2020. He returned in 2023 and has split time between starting and relieving since then.
Last year, Soroka leaned on a four-seam fastball (93.6 mph on average) and a slurve, as well as a sinker and changeup.
The 6-foot-5 hurler is from Calgary, Canada.
The Diamondbacks entered the offseason in dire need of pitching help, and Soroka is someone who can fill a slot in the rotation.
Michael Soroka, Filthy Slurves. 😷 pic.twitter.com/WowRRRD9FU
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 5, 2025
Diamondbacks need to continue addressing pitching
Run prevention has been a problem over the past two seasons, during which time the club has led MLB in scoring but missed the postseason. Arizona won 89 games in 2024 but dropped off to 80 wins in 2025.
From 2024-25, the Diamondbacks worked a team ERA of 4.56, which is the fifth worst in baseball ahead of only the Marlins, Angels, Nationals and Rockies. In 2025, D-backs starting pitching accounted for a 4.29 ERA, a disappointment given the talent and pedigree of the rotation entering the season.
Ahead of 2025, Arizona was hopeful for bounce-back seasons from Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery, extended young starter Brandon Pfaadt and signed Corbin Burnes to the biggest contract in franchise history at $210 million over six years.
Montgomery missed the entire season with Tommy John surgery, Rodriguez underwhelmed, Pfaadt was inconsistent and Burnes was lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery at the start of June.
Zac Gallen had his worst season — albeit with an improved final two months — before hitting free agency, and he declined Arizona’s qualifying offer. The team’s struggles led to Arizona trading its best starter, Merrill Kelly, to the Rangers at the deadline. Kelly is now a free agent.
The biggest win for the D-backs’ pitching staff in 2025 was the performance of Ryne Nelson, who started the year in the bullpen but broke out with a 3.15 ERA in 23 starts.
Arizona entered the offseason with Nelson, Rodriguez and Pfaadt lined up in the rotation and two holes to fill. Behind them, Arizona rosters a group of pitching prospects working their way up, including left-handers Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt along with right-handers Cristian Mena and Dylan Ray.
Pitching comes at a premium, so how the Diamondbacks would acquire it was a question coming into the winter.
The free agent pitching market received a jolt right before Thanksgiving with Dylan Cease signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Tatsuya Imai entered the winter as the top free agent arms on the market, while trade rumors have surrounded Tarik Skubal, Freddy Peralta and Joe Ryan.
