Report: Blue Jays Acquire RP Joakim Soria

Blue Jays add veteran reliever Joakim Soria minutes before trade deadline

Blue Jays aren't done yet.

With minutes until the 2021 MLB trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly acquired reliever Joakim Soria, Arizona sports talk radio host John Gambadoro said.

The deal has not been confirmed by either club, but Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith reports Toronto will send two players to be named later.

In his 14th season in Major League Baseball, Soria is a veteran reliever who has picked up saves in each of the last eight seasons.

In 2021, Soria has a 4.3 ERA in 29.1 innings pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks. With a 9.5 strikeouts per nine, Soria has saved six games for the lowly DBacks, posting a 3.74 FIP and walking just 2.5 per nine.

Soria has a career 3.06 ERA across 755 innings. The righty began his career with the Kansas City Royals, earning two All-Star Game appearances and even receiving Cy Young votes in 2010.

For a shaky bullpen, Soria provides a consistent strike thrower and veteran presence alongside recent acquisitions Brad Hand, Adam Cimber, and Trevor Richards. Toronto has the 14th ranked bullpen ERA in baseball (4.05 ERA) but the unit has been unreliable in close and late situations at times.

Soria was the third Toronto acquisition in the hours before the 2021 MLB deadline, alongside reliever Hand and starting pitcher José Berríos.

Further Reading:

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