Free agent pitcher Michael Soroka has signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Washington Nationals, marking a significant move as the team seeks to bolster its pitching staff during its rebuilding phase.

Soroka will join a Nationals pitching roster that includes Jake Irvin, MacKenzie Gore, Mitchell Parker, and DJ Herz, as the team aims to improve after consecutive losing seasons.

This signing represents the first major acquisition by Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo this offseason, as the team has struggled with a 71-91 record in the last two seasons and has not had a winning record since their 2019 World Series victory.

Notably, no players from the Nationals' 2019 championship roster remain on the team, highlighting the significant changes the franchise has undergone since then.

Soroka, a 27-year-old right-hander, had a challenging 2023 season with the Chicago White Sox, finishing with a winless record of 0-10 and a 4.74 ERA over 79 2/3 innings in 25 appearances.

His career has been marred by injuries, including two tears of his right Achilles tendon, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 and 2022 seasons and limited his appearances in 2023.

In his return to the Braves in 2023, Soroka recorded a 2-2 record with a 6.40 ERA in seven appearances, six of which were starts.

Despite recent struggles, Soroka has shown potential in the past, notably during a breakout 2019 season with the Atlanta Braves, where he posted a 13-4 record and a 2.68 ERA, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Soroka's new contract with the Nationals includes performance incentives, such as $25,000 for an All-Star selection and $100,000 for winning league MVP or Cy Young honors, among other bonuses.

Before joining the Nationals, Soroka was traded to the White Sox from the Braves in November 2023 as part of a five-player deal.

His tenure with the White Sox was marked by a historically poor season for the team, which set a modern-day record with 121 losses.