Let’s talk about one of the more underrated storylines of the MLB offseason—the curious case of Michael Soroka. If you’re a Braves fan, you probably had mixed emotions when Atlanta shipped Soroka off to the Chicago White Sox in that five-player deal for Aaron Bummer.
On one hand, it made sense. Due to injuries, Soroka had barely seen the mound over the previous three seasons, and Atlanta needed bullpen help. But on the other hand, this was Michael Soroka—the same guy who once looked like the future ace of the Braves rotation.
And now? Well, it looks like Washington Nationals fans are about to enjoy what Braves fans never got to see—a Soroka resurgence.
Soroka’s 2019 Dominance Proved He Could Be an Ace
Let’s rewind to 2019. Soroka wasn’t just good; he was elite. A 2.68 ERA over 174.2 innings, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting? That’s ace material.
To put that into perspective, only three MLB pitchers threw at least 170 innings with a sub-2.70 ERA in 2024—Chris Sale, Tarik Skubal, and Zack Wheeler. That’s the kind of company Soroka was keeping when he was healthy.
But then came the injuries—multiple Achilles tears, setbacks, lost seasons. By the time he returned to the Braves in 2023, it was clear he wasn’t the same guy yet.
In win-now mode, Atlanta wasn’t in a position to be patient, and they let him go. Fast forward a few months, and Soroka finds himself signing a one-year, $9 million deal with the Nationals. A low-risk, high-reward move that might just turn out to be one of the steals of the offseason.
Early Signs Point to a Resurgence
And so far? Soroka is dealing. His spring training numbers have been eye-opening, but it’s not just the results—it’s how he’s getting them.
In his latest start against a legitimate Cardinals lineup, Soroka struck out six over four innings, allowing just one run. Even more impressive? He generated at least a 43% whiff rate on three of his four pitches. That’s not easy to do, even in a short outing.
Now, let’s be clear—no one is saying Soroka is suddenly going to reclaim ace status overnight. But if he can stay healthy? The Nationals may have landed a legitimate weapon for their rotation.
A Costly Mistake for the Braves?
For the Braves, this has to sting. They didn’t add a starting pitcher all offseason, instead opting to roll with their current rotation depth. Meanwhile, Soroka, a guy they let go for nothing, is looking sharp in a Nationals uniform.
Alex Anthopoulos has made a lot of brilliant moves as Atlanta’s GM, but this one? This might just be the one that got away.
