$7.5M ONE-YEAR CONTRACT IS A GAMBLE ON 2019 ALL-STAR POTENTIAL
PHOENIX, AZ—After years of catastrophic injuries that nearly erased his career, former Atlanta Braves All-Star Mike Soroka has been handed a fragile new opportunity in the unforgiving Arizona desert. The Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized a $7.5 million, one-year contract (with up to $2 million in incentives) with the right-hander, signaling a high-risk, high-reward gamble on a player whose potential remains tantalizingly out of reach.
The deal is filled with emotion, doubt, and the intense desire for redemption that has followed the 28-year-old since his Braves exit.
YEARS LOST, POTENTIAL REMEMBERED
The story of Mike Soroka is one of immense talent tragically derailed. He burst onto the scene in 2019, finishing sixth in the NL Cy Young voting and posting a stellar 2.68 ERA over 29 starts.
Then came the pain: He tore his right Achilles tendon in 2020 and suffered a complete re-tear in 2021—an injury so debilitating it kept him off the mound for more than two full seasons. He has since battled forearm and shoulder issues, pitching a total of just 215 1/3 innings since his 2019 campaign.
- 2025 Performance: Last season, Soroka was bounced between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs, finishing with a 4.52 ERA over 89 2/3 innings (17 starts, 6 relief appearances), showing flashes of his former self but lacking the consistency needed for a long-term deal.
THE HIGH-STAKES GAMBLE FOR ARIZONA
The desert is unforgiving, but it can also be a place of rebirth, and the Diamondbacks are betting that their new environment can unlock the potential Soroka flashed five years ago. This move is a necessity for Arizona, which is facing major holes in its rotation with Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly entering free agency.
| Factor | Risk | Reward |
| Injury History | Soroka has a long, recent history of Achilles, shoulder, and biceps issues that could cut his season short at any time. | If fully healthy, he is an immediate top-of-the-rotation arm for a fraction of the cost. |
| Contract Structure | $7.5 million is a sizable check for a pitcher who hasn’t reached 100 IP since 2019. | The short-term commitment allows the D-backs flexibility; if he fails, they cut bait after one year. |
| Pitching Environment | Chase Field is known as a hitter-friendly park that encourages doubles and triples. | Soroka’s sinker/ground-ball profile (high ground-ball rates) could be an ideal fit, mitigating the home-run danger. |
For Mike Soroka, the one-year deal is the fragile new opportunity he desperately sought. It’s a chance to fully close the painful chapter of injuries and prove to the entire league—and himself—that the 2019 All-Star is still in there.
