Diamondbacks Trade Soria

PHOENIX - With the team looking terrible, and ownership looking ahead to the future, it was only a matter of time before Joakim Soria would be headed out of town. Currently tied for 8th in the majors with 15 saves, Soria has put up a solid 1.21ERA and 0.72WHIP during the start of the season. Soria, who's contract expires at the end of the season, had always been a hot trade target with title contenders in need of bullpen help.

Soria would ship out along with pitching surprise Michael Bolsinger, who along with Soria had been one of if not the only bright spot in the rotation. The trade with the Mariners returned RHP Jon Gray, a Top 25 pitching prospect, and Blue Jays 2014 1st round (9th overall) selection RHP Jeff Hoffman. It looks like management couldn't turn down that kind of haul, even if neither of them make the majors it's worth a shot on highly regarded talent.

Jon Gray has bounced around the league quite a bit since being taken 3rd overall by the Colorado Rockies in 2013. Gray is actually no stranger to moving around quite a bit after he bounced around college with stints at East Oklahoma State College and the University of Oklahoma. Gray has been drafted three times, first by the Royals (13th round) out of high school in 2010, then by the Yankees (10th round) out of East Oklahoma State in 2011. Gray looked very good in 2014 during his first season in Double-A, but he has struggled a bit in Triple-A through the start of 2015. If he can turn things around, he has a decent shot at the Diamondbacks rotation in 2016.


Jeff Hoffman, while highly regarded, is a risky prospect. Hoffman, who had Top 3 potential, underwent Tommy John surgery prior to the 2014 draft. The Blue Jays looked past the injury and still selected him 9th overall. He has bounced from Toronto to Seattle, but he has shown enough promise that evaluators still feel he's worth the risk