Michael Soroka, a 27-year-old right-hander, has signed a $9 million contract with the Washington Nationals for the 2025 season as the team looks to bolster its pitching staff during their ongoing rebuild. The Nationals hope Soroka can regain the form that earned him a spot in the 2019 NL All-Star Game before suffering two serious Achilles injuries.
Last season, Soroka struggled with the Chicago White Sox, posting a 0-10 record and a 4.74 ERA over 79 2/3 innings in 25 appearances, including nine starts. The White Sox finished with a dismal 41-121 record, the worst by any team in MLB history since 1900.
This signing marks the first notable offseason move by Nationals GM Mike Rizzo. Washington, coming off back-to-back 71-91 seasons, has endured five consecutive losing campaigns since their 2019 World Series victory. No players from that championship team remain on the roster.
In his rookie season with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, Soroka went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Pete Alonso and sixth in NL Cy Young voting. However, his career took a turn in 2020 when he tore his right Achilles during his third start of the pandemic-shortened season. After a lengthy recovery, he re-injured the same tendon in 2021, causing him to miss two full seasons.
Soroka returned to the Braves in 2023 but struggled with a 2-2 record and a 6.40 ERA in seven appearances. He was traded to the White Sox in November 2023 as part of a five-player deal that sent reliever Aaron Bummer to Atlanta.
His contract with Washington includes several performance-based incentives, such as bonuses for All-Star selections, MVP awards, Cy Young finishes, and Comeback Player of the Year honors, as well as achievements like Gold Glove or Silver Slugger awards.
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