Los Diamondbacks mostrarán interés en traer de vuelta a Michael Soroka como agente libre, según informa John Gambadoro de Arizona Sports 98.7 FM . El sentimiento es mutuo, ya que el lanzador derecho declaró a los periodistas (incluido Alex Weiner de Arizona Sports ) que le encantaría regresar después de que los Diamondbacks fueran eliminados en el último día de la temporada regular.
Soroka tuvo una sólida primera temporada en el desierto. Firmó un contrato de agente libre de un año y 7.5 millones de dólares, y registró un promedio de carreras limpias de 3.41 en 22 apariciones. El acuerdo incluye una opción mutua de 10 millones de dólares para 2027, pero el lanzador la rechazará sin duda. Fue el segundo mejor del equipo con 114 ponches y lideró a los abridores en porcentaje de ponches (24.1%).
El lanzador canadiense tuvo algunos problemas de lesiones, como le ha sucedido a lo largo de su carrera. Estuvo de baja seis semanas, desde finales de junio hasta principios de agosto, debido a una distensión en el glúteo izquierdo. Una inflamación en el brazo a finales de agosto provocó otra breve ausencia. Las 116 entradas de Soroka fueron pocas para un lanzador abridor, pero representaron su mayor carga de trabajo desde 2019.
That injury history is going to keep Soroka from securing a massive free agent payday. He should be in line for at least two and potentially three years, however, as he’s coming off one of the better platform seasons among mid-tier free agent starters. Soroka is still just 29 years old and has mid-rotation talent — if not the consistent durability to lock him in as a true #3 starter. He sits in the 93-94 mph range with a high-spin fastball and has an excellent low-80s breaking ball that gets a lot of whiffs. Soroka also added a new cutter as a fourth pitch this year.
The D-Backs will again be in the rotation market. It seems safe to assume they’ll let Zac Gallen walk on the heels of an ERA north of 6.00. Corbin Burnes has barely pitched for the last two seasons and ended the year on the shelf with a shoulder issue. He’s expected to avoid surgery but is something of a wild card. Merrill Kelly is coming off his worst season in Arizona, posting a near-5.00 ERA with a 16% strikeout rate.
Burnes and Kelly are under contract and figure to have Opening Day rotation spots if they’re healthy. Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez had strong ERAs with below-average strikeout stuff. Ryne Nelson underperformed and missed most of the second half to a partial flexor tear in his forearm. None of the Snakes’ returning starters missed bats at close to an average level. Only the Rockies had a lower team strikeout rate from their rotation overall.
It’d make sense for the D-Backs to add two starters, ideally pitchers with some swing-and-miss upside. Retaining Soroka would address one of those needs. The Snakes probably wouldn’t risk a qualifying offer that’s likely to land around $23.1MM. They could kick the tires on a multi-year deal at a lower annual salary but one that nevertheless gives Soroka a decent raise (e.g. $14-16MM annually).
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