This past winter, the Atlanta Braves made several trades, one of which involved sending a five-player package to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for reliever Aaron Bummer. A key player in this trade was right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka, whose performance during spring training has led some fans to question whether the Braves made a mistake in letting him go.
Soroka has shown promising results in spring training, posting a 2.00 ERA in three starts with 12 strikeouts over nine innings. However, Jake Mastroianni, host of the Locked on Braves podcast, addressed these concerns in a recent mailbag episode, arguing that the trade was not a mistake for several reasons.
First, Mastroianni emphasized that spring training statistics should be taken with caution. While Soroka’s early performance is encouraging, it doesn’t necessarily indicate a full return to his former “Maple Maddux” form. Spring training numbers are not always predictive of regular-season success, especially for pitchers. What’s more critical, Mastroianni noted, are the underlying factors such as pitch velocity, movement, and any adjustments Soroka may have made to his repertoire. Currently, there is no Statcast data available to provide a deeper analysis of Soroka’s performance, leaving some uncertainty about whether his spring success will translate into the regular season.
Second, Mastroianni highlighted the roster flexibility issue that Soroka faced. Due to his injury history, including a torn Achilles in 2020 and subsequent re-rupture, Soroka is out of minor league options. This meant the Braves were in a tough spot; if Soroka didn’t make the Opening Day roster, they would have had to designate him for assignment (DFA), risking losing him on waivers without receiving any return. Trading him, therefore, allowed the Braves to get value for Soroka while also giving him a fresh start with the White Sox.
Mastroianni argued that this move was beneficial for both parties. For Soroka, it provides an opportunity to rebuild his career in a less pressurized environment where he can be part of the starting rotation and work through any remaining challenges without the immediate pressure to win. For the Braves, it prevented the risk of losing Soroka for nothing and bolstered their bullpen with the addition of Bummer.
Looking ahead, Mastroianni expressed hope that Soroka might return to his former self, noting that if he does, the Braves could potentially trade to bring him back. The idea of Soroka rejoining the Braves in the future, once he’s fully regained his form, remains an appealing prospect for fans and the team alike. For now, though, the decision to trade Soroka appears to be a calculated move to balance the team’s current needs with the realities of Soroka’s situation.