Michael Soroka Declines Mutual Option With D-Backs

Michael Soroka has officially declined his end of a $10MM mutual option with the Diamondbacks, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. He’ll be paid a $1MM buyout and return to free agency.

This was inevitable, as Soroka has put himself in position to do pretty well financially. The Diamondbacks picked him up on a $7.5MM deal last offseason. (He earned an additional $1.35MM in performance bonuses by starting 20 games.) He was initially slated to open the season in a swing role, but an Opening Day injured list stint for Merrill Kelly drew him into the starting five.

Soroka was one of Torey Lovullo’s more reliable starters and held a rotation spot all season. He pitched to a 3.41 earned run average across 116 innings. He led Arizona starters with a 24.1% strikeout rate while limiting his free passes to a 6% clip. Soroka tailed off a bit in the second half as he navigated injured list stints for a left glute strain and arm inflammation, yet it was mid-rotation production on a rate basis. This was also his highest workload since 2019.

The innings questions are going to keep Soroka from commanding a massive contract, but he’s very likely to secure a multi-year deal. He’s entering his age-29 season and has one of the better strikeout and walk profiles of the group of mid-tier free agent starters. Soroka has a chance at three years, with a two-year pact in the $10-12MM range feeling like a floor.

While there’s mutual interest in a reunion with the Snakes, that may be too pricey given the team’s other needs. GM Mike Hazen downplayed the notion of spending big on a free agent starter when speaking with Piecoro on Thursday — instead implying they could look to the trade market for a younger arm. They’ll need to replace half the bullpen and upgrade one or both of first base and designated hitter.

This resolves the D-Backs’ option decisions for this offseason. Corbin Burnes made the easy call to opt in to the final four years on his six-year contract yesterday.