Nationals sign former White Sox pitcher Soroka to one-year, $9 million deal

The Washington Nationals have signed former Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Soroka to a one-year, $9 million contract, the team announced Thursday.

The 27-year-old marked the first major move of the winter for Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. Soroka went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 25 appearances for Chicago last season. He recorded 84 strikeouts across 79 2/3 innings pitched.

The Canadian started the 2024 campaign in the White Sox rotation before transitioning to the bullpen in the spring. He excelled as a reliever, holding opponents to a .189 batting average and notching a 2.75 ERA in the relief appearances.

Soroka, a first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2015, burst onto the scene during his rookie season in 2019. 

As a starter with the Braves in 2019, he earned a 13-4 record and a 2.68 ERA en route to his first All-Star appearance. At season’s end, he ranked second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and sixth in the NL Cy Young race.

But in his third start of the COVID-delayed 2020 season, Soroka tore his right Achilles tendon during a routine fielding play. After a follow-up procedure and nine months of rehab, he injured the same tendon while walking into Atlanta’s ballpark.

He missed parts of the COVID-delayed 2020 season after tearing and then reinjuring his right Achilles tendon. He missed the entire regular season in 2021 and 2022, then was 2-2 with a 6.40 ERA for the Braves in 2023 in seven appearances, six of them starts.

Soroka’s deal with the Nationals allows him to earn $25,000 for an All-Star election or selection, $100,000 for league MVP honors, $100,000 for a Cy Young Award, $50,000 for second- through fifth-place finishes in Cy Young voting, $100,000 for World Series MVP, $75,000 for League Championship MVP, $100,000 for comeback player of the year, $25,000 for a Gold Glove award and $50,000 for a Silver Slugger.

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.