Cubs boost pitching depth with trade for former All-Star

Published: Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 1:55 am

Cubs Bolster Pitching Staff with Soroka Acquisition

The Chicago Cubs are adding pitching depth to their roster, acquiring right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals. The trade, reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, brings the former All-Star to Chicago.

Soroka, who earned All-Star honors in 2019 while with the Atlanta Braves, has pitched to a 4.87 ERA in 16 games for the Nationals this season. While his ERA may not be immediately impressive, the Cubs are likely banking on his potential to contribute. The specifics of the trade, including what the Nationals received in return, have not yet been disclosed.

The move benefits the Nationals, who are in a rebuilding phase. Soroka, 27, is set to become a free agent after the season, and trading him allows Washington to receive assets rather than losing him without compensation.

Despite his ERA, Soroka has shown promising signs. He has recorded 87 strikeouts across 81.1 innings, boasting a career-high 25.4 percent strikeout rate. His 7.0 percent walk rate is the lowest since his All-Star season. Opponents are hitting .224 against him with a .697 OPS.

The Cubs may not be done adding to their roster. The team may be looking to acquire another pitcher or even some position players before the trade deadline. The MLB trade deadline is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, at 6 PM EST.

BNN's Perspective: The Soroka trade appears to be a calculated move by the Cubs to address a need for pitching depth. While Soroka's recent performance hasn't been stellar, his underlying metrics suggest potential for improvement. It's a low-risk, potentially high-reward acquisition that could pay dividends for the Cubs as they look to strengthen their roster.

Keywords: Chicago Cubs, Michael Soroka, trade, Washington Nationals, pitching, MLB, All-Star, ERA, strikeouts, free agency, trade deadline

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