The Blue Jays made their deadline-day push to fortify the rotation, landing right-hander Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels in a deal first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Toronto’s return was not immediately known.
Soriano arrives in Toronto in the middle of a strong season and gives the Blue Jays another starter built to handle real innings. The 27-year-old has started 22 games for the Angels in 2026, going 9-6 with a 3.29 ERA over 123 innings. He has piled up 127 strikeouts and posted a 1.25 WHIP.
That workload matters for a Toronto club looking for dependable rotation help over the final two months of the regular season. Soriano has allowed 97 hits and 45 earned runs this year, and while his 57 walks stand out, he has still done a good job limiting damage. Even on a struggling Angels team, he kept giving them a chance.
His last two outings before the trade were especially sharp. Soriano threw seven innings against the St.
Louis Cardinals on July 20, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out seven. He followed that up with five scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants on July 26.
Over those two starts, he gave up just seven hits and two earned runs in 12 innings.
The strikeout stuff is part of the appeal too. Soriano has recorded at least seven strikeouts in eight starts this season, which gives Toronto a starter with some swing-and-miss to go along with the innings.
For the Angels, the move fits a bigger picture. Los Angeles entered August at 43-69 and last in the American League West, and Soriano’s value - plus his multiple seasons of club control - made him a logical trade chip. The club now has a chance to bring in younger talent as it keeps reshaping the roster.
Soriano spent parts of four seasons with the Angels, moving from the bullpen into the rotation along the way. He leaves with a 3.72 career ERA, 432 strikeouts and 203 walks in 447 innings.
Toronto’s bet is straightforward: Soriano isn’t just rotation depth. He’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career and should be ready to step into meaningful innings right away as the Blue Jays chase the postseason.
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