The Athletic’s Bowden lists Angels pitcher Jose Soriano as trade target fit for Diamondbacks

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden listed Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano as the perfect trade target fit for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bowden noted the Diamondbacks’ need for a starting pitcher and his control beyond 2026 as the main reasons for the 27-year-old righty’s potential fit in Arizona.

The Diamondbacks need to improve their rotation if they’re going to get a wild-card berth, and Soriano would be a solid pick-up because he is controllable through 2028. Arizona has a much-improved farm system and certainly has enough to make this deal.

In 21 starts, Soriano has posted an 8-6 record with a 3.43 ERA, 122 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP. Soriano had a strong outing in his most recent start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, pitching seven innings with just one run surrendered on four hits and seven strikeouts.

With Soriano under control through 2028, he would also give the D-backs an option in the rotation beyond this season, as several starters are set to become free agents, including Michael Soroka and Zac Gallen. Corbin Burnes also has an opt-out clause in his contract.

The D-backs (55-50) are currently in the third and final National League wild-card spot with a 1.5-game cushion behind them (Cardinals) and one game between them and the second wild-card spot (Philadelphia Phillies).

Starting pitching has been a recent need for the D-backs, with several starters on the injured list, including Burnes, Gallen, Soroka and Ryne Nelson. Manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday that Burnes is eyeing a return in September as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery last season.

In their absences, the staff has been led by All-Star Eduardo Rodriguez, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt, with rookies Mitch Bratt and Kohl Drake getting recent starts in the rotation. Rodriguez leads the D-backs’ starters, posting a 9-3 record in 21 starts with a 2.64 ERA (ninth in MLB) and 86 strikeouts.

The D-backs wrap up a three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. The Nationals (53-52) are two games back of the D-backs in the wild-card standings but lead the season series 3-2, looking to clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker. Drake will take the mound for Arizona in his second career start against Nationals righty Miles Mikolas.

First pitch is at 10:35 a.m. Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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