In 2019, Michael Soroka (who, at the time, was named Mike) was a young starting pitcher coming off an exceptional rookie season. In a Braves uniform, the Canadian had maintained a 13-4 record, a 2.68 ERA and a WHIP of 1.111.
The 53 home runs of a rookie Pete Alonso had deprived Soroka of the title of Rookie of the Year in the National, but he had finished second in the voting and, above all, in sixth place in the race for the Cy Young trophy.
At the time, therefore, he was seen as the future of the team on the mound… except that things quickly derailed afterward. Two consecutive torn Achilles tendons essentially caused him to miss three full seasons in the Majors, and in 2023 he spent the bulk of his time in the minor leagues.
He pitched 32.1 innings in MLB this year, but his 6.40 ERA wasn’t necessarily inspiring.
We therefore wondered what awaited the Canadian, now 26 years old. However, last night, the Braves announced that he had been traded to the White Sox for left-handed reliever Aaron Bummer.
In fact, I will clarify: Soroka as well as several other elements headed to Chicago, while Bummer went the opposite way.
Jared Shuster, Nicky Lopez, Braden Shewmake and Riley Gowens are those other elements.
Shewmake and Shuster are two 25-year-old guys who didn’t really have a place in Atlanta, Lopez is a veteran who is a utility player and Gowens is a 24-year-old gunner who had a solid pro debut in 2023 .
There are no future MVPs in the mix, but these are four guys who will bring depth to Chicago. And for the Braves, it also opens up room on the 40-man roster.
As for Bummer, we’re talking about a 30-year-old left-handed reliever who had some good years, but who had a much more difficult 2023 (6.79 ERA in 58.1 innings). That said, the advanced stats suggest that he was better than the numbers show and that a good part of the failures are linked to bad luck and poor defense.
Basically, it is a project, but a project in which the club has good reason to believe. And if the Braves exercise all options in his contract, he will be under team control until 2026.
On the other hand, when I look at the whole thing, I can’t help but think how sad this all is for Michael Soroka. While he was almost on top of the world in 2019, injuries have meant that on his own, he is no longer even worth a left-handed reliever who is a project.
The Braves also thanked him on social networks, which they did not do for the other players involved in the transaction. It shows to what extent he left his mark despite his long absence.
I don’t know if it’s realistic for Soroka to restart his career (an Achilles tendon injury can really ruin a career, and it’s even worse when there are two) in Chicago, but I really wish him to achieve this. He may no longer necessarily have the coaching staff that works his magic in Atlanta, but in Chicago he may get an opportunity.
If Soroka can return to his former levels, the White Sox will be very, very happy with the transaction. I doubt it will happen, but I really like the bet.
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