Blue Jays acquire José Soriano from Angels for Arjun Nimmala, others

sportsAug 3, 202622351

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in a trade that sent top prospect shortstop Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti Jr., and right-hander Angel Rivero to Los Angeles. Soriano, 27, is under team control for two seasons beyond 2026 and has a 3.73 ERA across 75 games (73 starts) since the start of 2024; he began this season with a 0.24 ERA over 37 2/3 innings before a rough 12-start stretch and then steadied in July. Soriano leads the American League in walks with 57 and has issued more than 3.5 walks per nine innings in each of the past three seasons, making command his primary flaw despite high-velocity stuff. Toronto made the move a day after trading Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs, slotting Soriano to join Dylan Cease atop the projected rotation and shoring up starting pitching depth. The Angels reacquired Nimmala, the Blue Jays’ 2023 first-round pick who reached Double A with an .806 OPS as a 20-year-old and ranked No. 42 on Keith Law’s recent prospect list, plus two lower-end prospects as they add youth and infield depth. General manager Ross Atkins executed the swap with nearly nine hours remaining before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline, signaling Toronto’s shift from selling to targeted buying at the deadline.

Keegan Matheson

@keeganmatheson.bsky.social

José Soriano will be a similar type of project to Dylan Cease for Pete Walker and the #BlueJays' pitching staff. He's already got great shit. He sits at 97-98 mph with a nasty knuckle curve. If they push the right buttons, they can turn a very good pitcher into a great one.

702h ago

Ted🇨🇦3

He puts a smile on my face.

nomadenhaft2

Two TJ surgeries makes my tummy hurt.

splinter9.bsky.social2

Maybe if Nimmala were a high contact, no power bat, they might have kept him.

lagolfer112.bsky.social2

Cease, Yeasavage, Soriano- That’s a pretty good front end

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnsbaseball.bsky.social

And the deal is already official. José Soriano to Blue Jays for Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Micheletti Jr., and Angel Rivero. Soriano gives the Blue Jays a high velo, high ground ball pitcher who's under team control for two seasons beyond 2026.

382h ago

Gabriel D. Brodeur2

So the Jays are buying AND selling?!

June Northey 🏳️‍⚧️1

Hmm, our #2 prospect for 2+ years of Soriano. Wonder if the Jays will try to sign him long term ala Berrios.

Jeff Passan Bot

@jeffpassanbot.bsky.social

BREAKING: The Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring right-hander Jose Soriano in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, sources tell ESPN.

273h ago

Quoting this

April Glick Pulito6

If you’re only here, set an alert for this account and also @passanthalbot.bsky.social despite the sometimes lag

Bob Nightengale

@bnightengale.bsky.social

In a surprise move, the Toronto Blue Jays are acquiring Angels right-handed starter Jose Soriano, per @JeffPassan. He has 2 1/2 years left of control

243h ago

soxinmi.bsky.social1

So are they going to be both buyers AND sellers to set themselves up for next year figuring this was “one of those years” but the team just needs minor tweaks to contend next year? He replaces Gausman. Or are they going to flip him before 6, and this was easier than trying to work a multi-team deal

tedmccaslin.bsky.social1

hope for 2027 season yet

Toronto Blue Jays

@bluejaysbot.bsky.social

OFFICIAL: We’re acquired RHP José Soriano from the Angels in exchange for INF Arjun Nimmala, OF Eddie Micheletti Jr. and RHP Angel Rivero.

202h ago

Quoting this

Bat Flips and Maple Dips Podacst4

Big move. Love it! Never hug your prospects too tight. #BlueJays retooling on the fly for 2027.

Hannah3

This is a smart "looking to the future" trade

Jon Heyman

@jonheyman.bsky.social

Jose Soriano goes from Angels to Jays in a surprise twist

252h ago

Stats

@redsoxstats.bsky.social

Trying to connect the smallest bits of information, I’m wondering if Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano could be added to an expanded Zach Neto package that would satisfy their want for Arias and the the Red Sox reluctance to move him. Would likely swing the balance back to the Sox needing to add more.

24Yesterday

wcbosox.bsky.social5

Please don’t Include Arias for any package involving Neto.

Vmac1

Haven't dug deep on Neto; how much do the strikeouts bother you?

Mike Wilner

@wilnerness.bsky.social

The good thing about me not thinking Jose Soriano is a top of the rotation guy (too many walks, too inconsistent), is that with Cease and Yesavage here, he doesn’t have to be. Now #Bluejays have three legit SP for next year, plus Ponce, maybe Bowden Francis. Still hope Gausman comes back via FA.

211h ago

Richard Deitsch

@richarddeitsch.bsky.social

What a crazy-ass stretch for the Blue Jays over the last 24 hours. The Soriano deal is a great deal for them IMO. They are a big market team and this is a deal you make as a big market team understanding Nimmala's potential.

142h ago

Nick Ashbourne

@nickashbourne.bsky.social

I don't love the José Soriano deal, but an element of it I do like is that the Blue Jays are betting they can get more out of a talented arm than the Angels did - and that seems like a decent bet.

142h ago

Don

@oriolesreview.bsky.social

Can’t remember seeing something so direct: “Today, José Soriano will not make his scheduled start. With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take a prudent approach and see where these next few days lead us.”

11Yesterday

Kayla 🏳️‍⚧️3

i'm trying to decide how the orioles would say this, maybe something like "José Soriano will not make his scheduled start today. We will provide more information when it is available."

TFTwins

@tftwins.bsky.social

If you had José Soriano to Toronto you were drunk when you predicted it.

102h ago

Matt Trueblood

@matrueblood.bsky.social

I view José Soriano and Kevin Gausman as essentially equivalent for the balance of this year. Would rather have Gausman for that short period, but baaaarely. Really good work by Toronto to ship the rental out and go get a controlled guy in the same tier. (Paid a big price to do it, but)

62h ago

Drew

@drewgrof.bsky.social

Every trade made with the Angels is a “buy low” situation. The Jays can probably help Jose Soriano become a better pitcher overnight by virtue of not being the Angels. Getting him to Dunedin and putting some “we’re not the Angels” player development fundamentals into place is an easy win.

81h ago

brutalism apologist 🇵🇸

@brutapologist.bsky.social

The Los Angeles Angels have agreed in principle to a deal that sends me, personally, Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano in exchange for a 2015 Honda Fit and the contents therein

8Yesterday

3 sources

nytimes.comAfter trading 1 starter, Jays get Angels' José Soriano for Arjun Nimmala, others: Sources mlbtraderumors.comBlue Jays To Acquire Jose Soriano batterypower.comWould you trade a bunch of pitching prospects for Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers?

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Blue Jays acquire José Soriano from Angels for Arjun Nimmala, others

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