Diamondbacks sign Mike Soroka to 1-Year Deal to Bolster Rotation

The Arizona Diamondbacks just made a bold move, signing right-hander Mike rotation-with-soroka-and-kittredge-acquisitions/”>Soroka to a one-year, $7.5 million contract. The deal could reach $9.5 million with incentives.

Honestly, it says a lot about where the franchise is right now—short on healthy, established starters but willing to take a chance on a pitcher whose ceiling once looked ace-level before injuries threw him off course.

Diamondbacks Turn to Mike Soroka to Patch a Depleted Rotation

Arizona’s rotation has lost its core. Corbin Burnes is out with Tommy John surgery, Merrill Kelly got traded, and the team expects Zac Gallen to leave in free agency this offseason.

That’s a massive blow—so many innings and so much stability gone for a club trying to stay in the National League race. Enter Soroka, a 28-year-old righty who once had scouts buzzing about his command and competitiveness.

For the Diamondbacks, he’s both a bridge to the future and, maybe, a game-changer if he can find even a shadow of his early-career form.

A Rotation in Need of Stabilizing

The Diamondbacks aren’t just plugging holes at the back of the staff. They’re trying to rebuild a rotation identity from scratch.

Burnes is out for the long haul, Kelly’s gone, and with Gallen likely heading out, there’s a real sense of urgency. The front office doesn’t want to see the pitching side fall apart completely.

Given all that, Soroka isn’t just a depth piece. The club clearly believes he can handle important innings, and those incentives show they hope he’ll stay healthy and go deep into games.

From All-Star Rookie to Injury Odyssey

To get why this deal matters, you have to rewind to 2019. That season, Soroka wasn’t just promising—he was one of the best young starters in baseball.

At 21, he showed a level of poise and polish you just don’t see every day. He leaned on command and soft contact instead of pure velocity, which honestly gives this Arizona staff a new flavor after years of high-octane arms.

Soroka’s Breakout Season

In 2019, Soroka made his first National League All-Star team and put up a season most young pitchers would dream of:

• Record: 13–4
• ERA: 2.68
• Innings: 174⅔
• Starts: 29

He thrived by getting weak contact, living on the edges, and keeping the ball on the ground. That earned him trust in big games and postseason chances, making him one of the league’s most coveted young arms.

Two Achilles Tears and a Career Derailed

Then the injuries hit, and everything changed. Soroka tore his Achilles tendon twice, wiping out his 2021 and 2022 seasons and derailing the rise of a frontline starter.

For a pitcher who relies so much on balance and lower-half strength, those injuries were brutal. Since that breakout, Soroka just hasn’t found his rhythm or consistency.

Over the last four seasons, across four organizations, he’s posted a 4.85 ERA in 57 games (35 starts). Getting back on the mound is tough enough—getting back to that old form is a whole different challenge.

A Nomadic 2025, but Flashes of the Old Soroka

In 2025, Soroka’s journey was all over the place—some promising moments, but also setbacks and role changes. Still, Arizona saw enough flashes to take a shot, especially in a pitching market that seems to get pricier every year.

He started the year with the Washington Nationals, then moved again at the trade deadline.

Nationals, Cubs, and a Shoulder Setback

After opening the season with Washington, Soroka got traded to the Chicago Cubs at midseason. The Cubs saw him as a swingman, someone who could start or relieve.

But then a strained right shoulder put him on the injured list in August, cutting his impact short. He made just six appearances for the Cubs, mostly out of the bullpen.

The limited innings didn’t really answer whether he can be a full-time starter again, but he did show he can still compete when he’s right physically.

Why Soroka Fits Arizona’s Rebuild Strategy

The Diamondbacks’ deal with Soroka is a classic risk-reward play. On a one-year, $7.5 million contract with up to $9.5 million in incentives, Arizona’s basically betting that health and a change of scenery can bring back the 2019 version of Soroka—or something close.

From the team’s perspective, it fits a bigger plan: rebuild the rotation fast with experienced arms instead of tearing it all down and waiting on prospects. Sometimes, you just have to roll the dice and hope for the best.

What the Deal Signals About Arizona’s Direction

The Soroka signing hints at a few things the Diamondbacks care about right now:

• Stabilize the rotation in the short term after losing Burnes, Kelly, and likely Gallen.
• Bet on upside with a 28-year-old who’s already shown flashes of dominance at the top level.
• Maintain financial flexibility with a one-year commitment and performance-based incentives.

If Soroka manages to stay healthy and gets anywhere near his All-Star form, Arizona lands a quality starter at a fair price.

But if things don’t work out, the short deal keeps their payroll safe for the future.

It’s an interesting move for both sides—a talented pitcher trying to reclaim his place, and a team patching up its pitching staff while hoping to stay competitive in the NL.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Sources: D-backs add Soroka to reeling rotation