Chicago Cubs Add Michael Soroka and Andrew Kittredge

The Chicago Cubs, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by just one game, decided to stir the pot ahead of the trade deadline by adding some much-needed pitching depth. Enter Michael Soroka and Andrew Kittredge, players who might just be key ingredients in the Cubs’ postseason recipe. Will these moves work out well?

Soroka’s Rollercoaster Ride To Chicago

Remember when Soroka was the 2019 All-Star wunderkind, dazzling hitters with ease? Those were the good ol’ days. Injuries have derailed him since then. Torn Achilles, missed seasons, and what feels like half the league already stamped on his baseball passport.

This year with the Nationals, Soroka has shown flashes of that 2019 form. Sure, a 4.87 ERA and 3-8 record does not make you jump out of your seat, but here is the silver lining for stat-heads out there. Soroka’s expected ERA sits at a much friendlier 3.32. He has been better in his recent outings, allowing three runs or fewer in seven of his previous eight starts. If the Cubs can tap into that upside, you have a reliable depth arm.

And let’s not forget this dude led the league in hit batsmen this year with 14. He is not afraid to challenge hitters, even if he takes “brush them back” a little too literally. For $9 million, he will slot right behind Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga in the rotation.

Enter Kittredge, the Secret Bullpen Weapon

Kittredge is not grabbing headlines like your high-profile closers, but don’t sleep on this guy. At 35 years old, Kittredge brings experience and a career 3.45 ERA to Chicago’s bullpen. This year, pitching for Baltimore, he’s posted a 3.96 ERA in 30 games.

What makes Kittredge interesting is his versatility. Need a late-inning setup man? Done. Struggling somewhere in the middle relief department? No problem. Manager Craig Counsell gets an arm he can trust in multiple situations. Considering the Cubs have completely re-shuffled their bullpen in 2025, adding someone like Kittredge feels like the veteran glue to hold it all together. Will he reel off five perfect outings in a row? Probably not. But if he stabilizes what’s been a chaotic year for the pen, he’ll earn every bit of his paycheck.

The Cubs Gamble On Youth (But Not Too Much)

The Cubs absolutely love dangling prospects at the trade deadline like bait on a fishing line, but this time, they played it relatively smart. The outgoing package? Christian Franklin and Ronny Cruz to the Nationals, plus Wilfri De La Cruz to the Orioles. None of these guys ranked in the Cubs’ top 10 prospects. Chicago did not mortgage the farm for mediocre upgrades.

Franklin, who’s 25 and working his way through Triple-A, put up solid numbers with a .265 average and eight homers, while Cruz, just 18, was showing promise in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The wildcard in this prospect shuffle is De La Cruz, a 17-year-old with switch-hitting power potential.

Pitching Puzzle Coming Together?

It is not just about new additions; the Cubs might finally get some injured arms back, which feels like a miracle in itself. Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, and Porter Hodge are all nearing returns. Combining them with the Soroka-Kittredge duo could give the Cubs their deepest pitching staff in years.

For a team that has not won a playoff series since 2017, the moves signal one thing loud and clear: the Cubs are going for it. Are they going “all in” or just dipping their toes in the playoff pool? We’ll see. But for Cubs fans desperate for a flicker of postseason hope, it is hard not to be intrigued by what could come next.

Will These Moves Pay Off?

Here is the thing about Cubs trades like this. They are calculated risks. Soroka’s injury history is scary, but his upside is real. Kittredge does not give you closer vibes, but he is reliable enough in high-leverage situations. Combine that with their limited prospect cost, and suddenly, these don’t look like desperate deadline deals. Whether you love or hate these moves, one thing is clear. The Cubs are gearing up for a September stretch run that might get interesting.