PHOENIX — Starting pitcher Michael Soroka is a free agent after declining his $10 million mutual option with the Arizona Diamondbacks, AZCentral’s Nick Piecoro first reported Friday, according to Arizona Sports.
Soroka, 29, signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal last winter and delivered his best season since he was an All-Star at 21 in 2019. He made 22 appearances with a 3.41 ERA and was Arizona’s second-most valuable starter by Baseball-Reference wins above replacement at 2.2, trailing only Eduardo Rodriguez.
He pitched 116 innings, his most since 2019, despite missing time with a glute strain and shoulder inflammation. When healthy, he posted a 1.09 WHIP with above-average strikeout, walk, chase and hard-hit rates, Arizona Sports reported.
Mutual options are rarely exercised by both sides. Of 18 mutual option decisions last offseason, none was picked up.
Both Soroka and the team have expressed interest in a reunion. “I would absolutely love to return,” Soroka said, according to Arizona Sports.
Spotrac projects a market value of about four years and $20 million for the right-hander.
Sources: Arizona Sports. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Thomson200 / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
