The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-handed pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angeles in exchange for infielder Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr., and right-handed pitcher Angel Rivero before Monday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline.
The 27-year-old Soriano from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has a 9-6 record and a 3.29 earned-run average over 22 starts this season for the Angels.
The Angels signed Soriano as an international free agent in 2016, and he made his MLB debut for the club in 2023.
He was the American League’s pitcher of the month for March-April after going 5-1 with a .84 ERA and 49 strikeouts.
Soriano ranks second among qualified American League pitchers this season in ground ball rate at 52.3 per cent.
His career record is 26-27 with a 3.72 ERA over four seasons.
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The move comes a day after the Jays dealt top pitcher Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.
Gausman, who signed a five-year, US$110-million deal with the Blue Jays in 2021, was one of Toronto’s most reliable starters for five seasons.
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The Blue Jays (52-60) reached the World Series last year before falling in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But Toronto was a seller and not a buyer at Monday’s deadline.
Heading into an evening road game against the Houston Astros, the Blue Jays were 4.5 games out of a wild-card spot with four teams — the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers — between them and the wild-card berth.
Nimmala, 20, has split his season between four levels of minor league ball in Toronto’s system. The shortstop was selected 20th overall in the 2023 draft.
Michelleti Jr., hit 20 doubles, four triples and 14 home runs for 45 RBI with double-A New Hampshire this season. The left-handed hitter was chosen by the Blue Jays in the eighth round of the 2024 draft.
Rivero, 19, carried a 2.46 ERA over 12 appearances in rookie ball with 52 strikeouts this season. The Venezuelan was signed as an international free agent in 2024.
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