Signing with the D-backs is a dream scenario for Soroka, a move that ticks three major boxes for right-hander Michael Soroka. The Diamondbacks needed proven starting pitching, they sit in Phoenix so the family can reside at home year-round, and he no longer has to confront Arizona’s lineup. On the first day of the Winter Meetings, Arizona inked Soroka to a one-year deal with a mutual option. Although terms weren’t officially disclosed, multiple sources indicated the contract totals $7.5 million, potentially rising to $9.5 million with performance bonuses.
“It's basically a dream situation,” Soroka said. “Everyone would love to live in their own house all year and compete for this organization. Over the last couple of seasons, they’ve given me some tough matchups, but they’ve also built a formidable team that’s very hard to face. That’s one more lineup I don’t have to worry about. Several factors aligned early, and there was no point in waiting.”
A few days after Soroka’s signing, the Diamondbacks added free-agent right-hander Merrill Kelly to a two-year, $40 million pact, pending a physical. While the team has not publicly confirmed the deal, the move reinforces Arizona’s focus on solidifying its rotation. The D-backs mustered a lineup that includes Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Soroka, a group formed in response to Zac Gallen’s pending free agency and the trade of Kelly at the deadline, with Corbin Burnes sidelined until the All-Star break due to Tommy John surgery.
Soroka’s 2025 season featured 17 starts and 89 2/3 innings, his heaviest workload since his standout rookie season with Atlanta in 2019. At 21 in 2019, he posted a 2.68 ERA over 29 starts, earned a National League All-Star nod, placed sixth in NL Cy Young voting, and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. During 2025, his ERA settled at 4.52, yet several Statcast indicators—such as a 3.43 expected ERA and a .210 expected batting average—hinted at bad luck rather than true underperformance.
Soroka believes he took a meaningful step forward last year and projects an even bigger leap this season, thanks in part to three new offerings: a cut fastball, a sweeper, and a gyro-slider. He credited the Cubs’ player-development staff for helping him refine his delivery and for recommending these additional pitches.
“Last year I did some things better than during my All-Star season in 2019,” Soroka remarked. “There were years when it was tough to find my rhythm, but last year I felt like I truly understood what it takes to perform consistently, both mentally and competitively, when everything clicks.”
