The Chicago Cubs were one of the most disappointing teams at this year’s Trade Deadline, opting to pick from the ‘bargain bin’ of players on the block. They didn’t feel the need to shoot for one of the big-name arms that were available, but instead……settled on the injury prone Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals.

It was a move that left fans FURIOUS, and after the righty’s first start on Monday…..I’m fairly certain that the Cubs’ faithful have been SPITTING with anger ever since.

Nate Pearson has been recalled.

Michael Soroka has been placed on the 15-day IL. pic.twitter.com/MxKkwziHkJ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 5, 2025

Last week, Jed Hoyer and the Cubs’ brass decided to bring in the sixth-year vet at the deadline to help “bolster” the starting rotation. In exchange, the North Siders sent OF Christian Franklin and IF Ronny Cruz the other way. It was a cost-saving measure (for some reason(, that helped fill a desperate need for the team. And now……it looks like that decision has backfired, BIG TIME!

Michael Soroka, who fans didn’t want to begin with, has been placed on the IL with a shoulder strain after just 2 IP and 31 total pitches with his new club. The injury-prone pitcher, who has been on the shelf PLENTY of times throughout his career, couldn’t even get through a full outing without living up to his namesake.

His tenure in Chicago has started off as a failure, and fans couldn’t be more UPSET! And what was Jed’s response to the injury? Well….

Jed Hoyer on acquiring Mike Soroka who went on the IL after 2 innings: “Given the market, given the asking price…we felt it was a good bet to make…Right now, it’s not looking like a good bet…Doesn’t mean he won’t help us the rest of the year. Waiting on medical stuff.”

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) August 5, 2025

“It’s not looking like a good bet.” Gee Jed, you don’t say? This “bet” (which is WILD that you’re calling it a bet) has turned into a dumpster fire of epic proportions, and is something that shouldn’t have even happened in the first place. It’s on your head, Mr. “President of Baseball Operations.” You brought in someone who has a history of this in the middle of a postseason run, who was ALREADY EXHIBITING problems (like velocity drop-off) before the trade even happened….

Mike Soroka was pulled from his Cubs debut after just 2.0 IP and 31 pitches.

His velocity was noticeably down from where he was pre-trade, which was a concern before his acquisition was announced. pic.twitter.com/CU8fZptS72

— Jack Mueller (@jack_mueller15) August 5, 2025

And NOW you’re paying the price for it.

This whole situation……it’s just all kinds of messed up. It is! Sure; it’s not really Soroka’s fault that he got hurt, and anyone who attacks him for an injury is a terrible person. But the fact of the matter is that the front office KNEW about this guy’s history of being on the IL, and they still went along with the trade. They KNEW that there were other quality pitchers out there, and they still went with an arm from the NATS with a 4.87 ERA.

This is all jacked up, and it leads me to the conclusion that if guys like Caissie, Ballesteros, and Wiggins don’t turn into something/aren’t regular pieces of this roster moving forward……then this whole franchise has failed. If your farm system is too valuable to move to help you win now, then they better be valuable enough to help you win later.

Hopefully the bullpen is prepared, because they’re going to be used A LOT the rest of the way. But in the end, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.