With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, the New York Yankees‘ efforts to improve the team for the later months of the season will be heavily evaluated by their fans and the media.
One addition to the Yankees’ roster will not fix their struggles for the remainder of the season. Still, they have many holes in their bullpen, and arms like Jonathan Loaisiga and Ian Hamilton are not performing up to standard.
Given the bullpen’s inconsistencies, Yankees general Manager Brian Cashman will likely be active on the phone over the next several days. Impending free agents will be a hot commodity, and the lowly Washington Nationals may be able to help.
Should the Yankees Turn to the Nationals for Bullpen Help?
Right-hander Michael Soroka has made 15 starts this season for the Nationals, but made most of his appearances during the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox out of the bullpen. Mike Axisa of CBS Sports tabbed Soroka, a 27-year-old who’s torn his Achilles tendon twice, as a trade target the New York Yankees should consider.
“Somehow still only 27, Soroka has an unsightly 5.10 ERA with the Nationals, though underlying numbers are strong (3.22 xERA), and MLB’s worst bullpen has done the man no favors,” wrote Axisa. “Soroka has left nine runners on base for the bullpen, and eight have scored. Give him a league-average 32% inherited runner strand rate rather than 89% (!), and he has a more respectable 4.48 ERA.”
Once a highly touted prospect with the Atlanta Braves, Soroka missed the entirety of the 2021 and 2022 seasons because of his Achilles injuries. As a relief pitcher with the White Sox last season, the Canadian had a 39 percent strikeout rate, a 2.75 ERA, and averaged 94 mph in 36 innings. Soroka’s average fastball velocity in nine starts in 2024 was 92.6 mph.
“Soroka is another rental player, and moving him to the bullpen does not necessarily have to mean working one inning. He’s stretched out to start, so perhaps he could fill a multi-inning role and face 6-9 batters at a clip,” wrote Axisa.
“Michael King filled that role very well before the Yankees used him to get Trent Grisham and Juan Soto last offseason. The multi-inning reliever is a valuable bullpen piece. My guess is a smart team trades for Soroka and uses him as a reliever the rest of the way. Why not the Yankees?”
Soroka’s Potential Impact With the Yankees
Soroka is not the top name of the trade rumor mill, with elite relievers like Emmanuel Clase and Jhoan Duran drawing the most interest.
As Axisa mentioned, the New York Yankees need an innings eater down the stretch. Typically, manager Aaron Boone avoids using Luke Weaver and closer Devin Williams three days in a row. Mostly, Williams throws no more than one inning during an appearance. With experience in the bullpen, Soroka could help lighten Williams and Weaver’s workloads as the postseason nears.
On the other hand, Soroka began his career as a starting pitcher with the Braves, and the Nationals allowed him to showcase his talents on one of the National League’s rebuilding rosters. He may be a free agent at season’s end, but similar to the injured Ryan Yarbrough, Soroka’s ability to make starts or transition to the bullpen could be an impactful move for the Yankees.
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