Michael Soroka once looked like baseball’s next best starting pitcher when he broke into the majors with the Atlanta Braves. However, seven years after his debut and two consecutive poor seasons, Soroka has become a free agent looking to reclaim his promise.
Despite poor production in recent years, many expect Soroka to generate league-wide interest. Both contenders and rebuilders could salivate at the chance to acquire an immense talent on what will likely be a low-risk, high-reward deal.
Druski repping Michael Soroka on stream with Kai Cenat and Kevin Hart🥺🥺
My goat getting his respect
Bring him back @Braves pic.twitter.com/bLVX1fUqdx— Dillion Harper (@og_yungdilly) November 28, 2024
Michael Soroka Free Agent Profile
Soroka burst on the scene as a 20-year-old rookie with the Atlanta Braves in 2018. In five starts, he posted a 3.51 ERA (118 ERA+) in 25 2/3 innings. Shoulder inflammation limited him to those five starts, but Soroka returned stronger in 2019.
That year, he tossed 174 2/3 innings across 29 starts and produced a 2.68 ERA (171 ERA+). With his great production, the Canadian made the All-Star team, finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year race, and placed sixth in the NL Cy Young voting.
Unfortunately, injuries have since halted Soroka’s career. He made three starts in 2020 before rupturing his Achilles tendon. A second procedure a couple of months later ended any chance that he could return in 2021. But one month later, Soroka tore his Achilles once again while simply walking towards the Braves dugout.
With two Achilles repair surgeries in less than a year, Soroka would miss all of 2021 and 2022. While his return represented a great story in 2023, it was damped by his struggles. It showed that he was a long way away from his dominant 2019 season.
Soroka’s Struggles and Rebound
The right-hander started 2023 in the minors and returned to the majors in late May, over 1,000 days since his last MLB start. The rust was evident. He tossed 32 1/3 major league innings with the Braves across seven appearances (six starts) and posted a 6.40 ERA (69 ERA+). Despite the struggles, many around the league still believed in Soroka and looked at his better production in Triple-A (3.41 ERA in 87 innings across 17 starts).
However, Atlanta decided to move on and traded him to the Chicago White Sox. With one year remaining on his contract, Soroka went to Chicago with a chance to rebuild his value before becoming a free agent.
The overall results were mixed. Soroka began the year as Chicago’s number two starter but struggled mightily. In his first nine starts, Soroka posted a 6.39 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 24 walks. With no minor league options remaining and no reason to give up on his upside, the lowly White Sox shifted him to the bullpen.
Michael Soroka went 0-10. Your team is going to want to try to sign him this winter. Here’s why:
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) November 12, 2024
That proved to be the right move, as Soroka’s season completely turned around. In 13 outings from May 18 to July 14, Soroka posted a 3.45 ERA, stuck out 47, and walked 18 in 28 2/3 innings. Though he missed over two months with a shoulder injury, Soroka returned for three multi-inning outings in late September and was even more dominant.
As a reliever, Soroka benefitted from altering his pitch mix and throwing his fastball harder. He stopped trying to pitch to contact and threw his sinker much less. As a result, he increased his slider usage, which paired well with the increase in his fastball velocity and usage.
Market Value
Soroka represents one of the more intriguing free-agent cases this winter. Evaluators will see his new strikeout ability as a repeatable, not fluky, skill. Teams will likely express interest in him as a potential late-inning threat out of the bullpen.
Michael Soroka with a 96.9mph Fastball.
Fastest of his career! pic.twitter.com/0ULVDdlrMZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 18, 2024
However, even if teams look at strikeout ability as a repeatable skill, Soroka still doesn’t have a long track record of success as a reliever. Plus, the injury bug still impacted him in his new role. If he wants to sign a big deal as a reliever, he will likely need to sign a “prove-it” deal this winter and try again next year.
Another wrinkle in Soroka’s profile is how teams view him, and how he views himself. Still just 27, Soroka still has some upside as a starter. With the price of established pitching incredibly expensive, teams could look to sign Soroka as a starter and unlock his potential.
Plus, Soroka might still view himself as a starter and doesn’t want to give up on it yet. This could lead Soroka to prioritize signing a free agent deal with a team that can guarantee him at least a chance to start games.
Whether he is a starter or reliever, Soroka is a free agent who needs to re-establish his value in 2025. These profiles tend to sign short-term commitments that offer the opportunity to re-enter free agency in a year or two to cash in big.
Team Projections
Athletics
One team that could entice Soroka is the Athletics. The team reportedly wants to add pitching and take the next steps in its rebuild process. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the A’s expect to struggle to attract free agents due to their stadium situation.
The #Athletics are looking to take a step forward in 2025, but will they struggle to lure free agents to Sacramento?https://t.co/NsTJ9mCWrT pic.twitter.com/Q1OtEmRhR2
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) November 3, 2024
So, the organization may try to attract a talented free agent like Soroka by offering more than what they want (or deserve). The A’s could be the only team to offer Soroka a guaranteed spot in the starting rotation without sacrificing a desired contract structure. The Athletics might have to operate like this to attract players, and Soroka isn’t in a position to hold out for a deal that meets all of his demands, and then some.
If the Athletics are the only team to make a competitive financial offer and guarantee a starting job, would Soroka say no?
Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays represent another intriguing fit for Soroka. Toronto needs to remake its bullpen and could use a strikeout threat like him. The Jays will likely add to their rotation, but will likely pursue a more established starter.
If Soroka maintains his huge strikeout numbers, he could serve as a threat that Toronto’s bullpen lacked last year. Especially after the team non-tendered its longtime closer, Soroka could pitch in high-leverage situations and get strikeouts in those big spots. He could also serve as a multi-inning reliever to bridge the gap between the starter and the new closer.
Soroka, born in Calgary, might relish the opportunity to play in his native country. Plus, the Blue Jays have an unheralded track record of signing talented pitchers and getting the most out of them. Toronto could represent a comfortable destination that helps him establish his place in MLB.
Photo Credit: © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
