The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached an agreement with right-hander on a one-year deal worth $7.5 million, plus up to $2 million in incentives, per reports from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan as well as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The contract is still contingent on a physical.
Soroka, a former first-round selection of the Atlanta Braves, burst onto the scene in 2019 with a 2.68 ERA over 174.2 innings, earning a runner-up finish for National League Rookie of the Year behind Pete Alonso and placing sixth in the NL Cy Young race.
Since that standout season, however, Soroka’s career has taken a difficult turn.
Soroka was considered to be one of the next great pitchers in baseball after his impressive rookie year. Since then, he has struggled mightily to stay healthy.
From 2020 through 2023, Soroka pitched in just 10 total games due to a litany of injuries, including two Achilles tendon tears.
In fact, Soroka has only pitched in 215.1 innings since his rookie year.
In 2024 and 2025, he enjoyed the healthiest years since the injuries piled up, pitching 169.1 total innings.
However, he has struggled with inconsistency, sporting a 4.74 ERA and zero wins in 2024 with the Chicago White Sox and a 4.52 ERA in 2025 between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. Soroka has been used as a long-relief bullpen arm during parts of those years, only starting 26 of a possible 47 games.
His ground ball rate has always been high, and Soroka has always done well at generating weak contact, but it’s become harder and harder for Soroka to put up successful numbers due to his litany of injuries.
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