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Why Blue Jays are trading Arjun Nimmala and more for Jose Soriano originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Blue Jays made their first move of the 2026 MLB trade deadline on Sunday night by trading beloved franchise ace Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs.
But, the next morning, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan, they pulled off a shocker, trading for Jose Soriano, a controllable starting pitcher, from the Los Angeles Angels.
Passan followed that report up with the package Toronto is sending the Angels' way, and it's a three-player package headlined by top prospect Arjun Nimmala. So, why did the blue Jays swing this surprising trade for a pitcher after selling Gausman?
Why Blue Jays are acquiring Jose Soriano a day after trading away Kevin Gausman?
"The Angels will receive top shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti, and right-hander Angel Rivero from the Blue Jays for Jose Soriano, sources tell ESPN," Passan reports.
This is a huge move for the Blue Jays and Angels, as Soriano, the 27-year-old right-hander, is under club control through the 2028 MLB season.
He has 2.5 years of club control left on very affordable deals for the Blue Jays. He's not a simple rental, nor is he someone under control for just one more season. He's a long-term investment.
Of course, the cost is very high. According to MLB Pipeline, the Blue Jays are sending their No. 2-ranked prospect in Nimmala alongside Micheletti and Rivero in this blockbuster deal.
It might seem odd for the Blue Jays to buy after selling Gausman on Sunday night, but this is the exact kind of move that this Blue Jays team should be making.
MORE: Cubs land Kevin Gausman in blockbuster trade with Blue Jays
They were in the World Series one year ago. This team is built to win now. That doesn't change after trading Gausman to the Cubs. Soriano's addition proves this team is planning to contend in 2027 and 2028.
This season, Soriano has a 3.29 ERA with a 9-6 record and 2.7 bWAR with 127 strikeouts and a 124 ERA+ in 123 innings of work across 22 starts.
Soriano is one of the best pitchers available this summer, thanks in large part to his club control. While Nimmala is a huge cost, adding someone like Soriano was never going to be cheap.
So, why did the Blue Jays send Nimmala, a top shortstop prospect, to the Angels for Soriano a day after trading Gausman? This Blue Jays team can still compete, and they've made this move to prove their plan next year and in 2028 is to be contenders once again.
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