SOROKA SENT TO THE CUBS
The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals for infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin.
What does it give the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are in the market for starting pitching at this year's trade deadline, so Soroka should help. He is familar with the city of Chicago, having pitched on the South side for the White Sox in 2024. His numbers were unspectacular this year but he should be able to carve out more wins for the Cubs.
What does it give the Washington Nationals
Cruz is only 18 years old, while Franklin is 25. Therefore, Cruz is potentially the big prize for Washington here. Franklin is probably closer to a recall. Both players are decent additions for the Nationals here, especially since they are not contending this season–and Soroka was fairly expendable.
Fantasy impact
Soroka has decent strikeout numbers, so more run support in Chicago could make him a viable fantasy starter down the stretch. Keep an eye on him. Cruz is definitely on the fantasy radar for keeper formats. His upside is fairly high, though it should still take him years to reach MLB. Franklin is more of a wait-and-see prospect at this point.
