See Also The Cubs are the latest team to shore up their pitching staff. Chicago made a move to acquire starter Michael Soroka from the Nationals on Wednesday night, le s than 24 hours before the MLB trade deadline, . The Athletics Ken Rosenthal first reported the deal. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is a former All-Star and was a coveted arm at the deadline. Soroka hasnt had a great season in 2025, but theres plenty of reason to like what he brings to a team as a likely backend starter for Chicago, which sits in second in the NL Central at 63-45. Michael Soroka Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Explore More Soroka has posted a 4.87 ERA acro s 16 starts this season, but his advanced metrics suggest that he has pitched better than those numbers illustrate. His expected ERA, which estimates ERA based on the quality of contact allowed rather than simply the outcome, is in the 75th percentile this season, Baseball Savant. Wade Meckler Jersey The expected batting average of hitters he faces ranks even better, sitting in the 84th percentile. His strikeout rate, walk rate and barrel rate all sit in the 69th percentile or better. Michale Soroka Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Soroka just now finding a groove for the first time in several years, as hes struggled with injuries. He suffered two Achilles tears and a forearm injury in recent years. His move to Chicago this trade deadline is actually a return of sorts, as he spent 2024 with the White Sox on the South Side of the Windy City. He pitched to a 4.74 ERA and a 0-10 record on nine starts and 25 total appearances for the White Sox. Michale Soroka made an All-Star Game as a second-year player for the Braves in 2018. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Before his injuries, Sorokas career was blo soming in Atlanta, as he made the All-Star Game in his second year and was top-6 in Cy Young voting with his 2.68 ERA. In return for Soroka, the Cubs sent their No. 13 and 14 prospects to Washington, infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin, according to Heyman. The 18-year-old Cruz was drafted in the third round in 2024 and primarily plays shortstop. He hit .270 with a .745 OPS acro s nearly 200 plate appearances in rookie ball. Franklin was a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Arkansas and is hitting .265 with an .820 OPS acro s 321 at-bats in Triple-A this season. Dave Dravecky Jersey