Signing with the D-backs felt like a dream scenario for Soroka
When Michael Soroka weighed his offseason options, three priorities stood out for the right-hander: securing a spot in the rotation, remaining in the Phoenix area so his family could live at home year-round, and facing a lineup he’s not already familiar with. Arizona checked all three boxes.
The Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option on the first day of the Winter Meetings. Although the terms were not officially disclosed by the team, reports indicated a $7.5 million base value, with performance bonuses that could push the total to as much as $9.5 million.
“It's kind of a dream scenario,” Soroka said. “Everyone wants to be able to live in their own house year-round and compete for a chance with this organization. Over the last couple of years, they’ve presented me with some tough moments, but they’ve built a strong team that’s hard to face. That’s one more tough lineup I don’t have to worry about.” He added that the D-backs showed clear interest early, and there was no reason to wait any longer.
A few days later, Arizona moved to reinforce its rotation again by signing free-agent right-hander Merrill Kelly to a two-year, $40 million deal, pending a physical. The club had not confirmed the Kelly agreement publicly at the time.
Starting pitching was the D-backs’ top offseason goal, especially with Zac Gallen hitting free agency and Kelly having been traded at the deadline. Those moves, together with Corbin Burnes’ expected absence until the All-Star break due to Tommy John surgery, left Arizona with a thinner rotation.
If things stand as of now, the Diamondbacks’ projected rotation includes Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodríguez, and Soroka.
Soroka’s 2025 season covered 17 starts and 89 2/3 innings between the Nationals and Cubs, marking his heaviest workload since his standout rookie season with the Braves in 2019. That year, at 21, he posted a 2.68 ERA over 29 starts, earned an NL All-Star nod, finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting, and was runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year.
In 2025, though he split time with Washington and Chicago, Soroka flashed the potential fans remember from his younger days. He ended the year with a 4.52 ERA, but several Statcast metrics suggested he’d benefited from a bit of bad luck—his 3.43 expected ERA and a .210 expected batting average painted a more favorable picture than the surface numbers.
Soroka feels he took a step forward last season and believes he’ll take an even bigger leap in 2026, aided by three new pitches—the cut fastball, the sweeper, and the gyro-slider.
He credited the Cubs’ organization for helping refine his delivery and for introducing the new pitches.
“There were stretches last year when I did a lot of things better than even during my All-Star year in 2019,” Soroka said. “There were a couple of years where it felt hard to find the rhythm, but last year I caught myself in moments where everything clicked and I felt mentally and competitively aligned.”
This new chapter with the Diamondbacks signals a fresh opportunity for Soroka to showcase his revival and contribute to a pitching staff eager to rebound from recent gaps in the rotation. Would you agree with the assessment that these changes could unlock Soroka’s best form yet, or do you foresee continued inconsistency as he adapts to a new environment and repertoire?
