Nationals Pull Off Surprise Soroka Deal With Cubs in Midnight Swap

The situation is heating up in Major League Baseball as the trade deadline approaches, with the Washington Nationals becoming heavily involved.

A last-minute agreement on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic Was the first to announce that Michael Soroka had been traded to the Chicago Cubs. Jesse Rogers of ESPN Later stated that Triple-A outfielder Christian Franklin and 18-year-old infielder Ronny Cruz were the players acquired by the Nationals.

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Washington agreed to a one-year contract worth $9 million with Soroka during the previous off-season. They acquired him with the intention of using him as a starter, even though he had been transitioned into relief pitching by the Chicago White Sox the prior season.

Soroka posted a 4.68 ERA over his 16 appearances with the Nationals, a number that was affected when he injured his right biceps in early April, causing him to miss time until May 7.

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Although his statistics may not appear impressive at first glance, the right-handed pitcher's projected ERA stands at 3.32, suggesting that some unfavorable circumstances might have affected his performance this year.

Washington took a risk on the frequently injured player who was selected 28th overall in the 2015 draft, and as a result, they received the Cubs' 13th and 14th best prospects.

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Although Franklin isn't known for a lot of power, he has hit .265/.393/.427 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs over 81 games at the Triple-A level this year. This performance adds further versatility to the Nationals' outfield as they continue to evaluate potential partners for James Wood and Dylan Crews moving ahead.

Cruz is a player designed for the long haul, equipped with the skills to become a powerful hitting shortstop and boasting an strong throwing arm.

Picking up Soroka, who is currently available on loan, for this deal represents a significant advantage for Washington.

For additional Nationals updates, visit Nationals On SI .

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