Joakim Soria: Likely To Be Traded To Pittsburgh

After starting the day with a huge deal that sent David Price to the Blue Jays for three pitching prospects, the Tigers continued selling off their marquee parts later Thursday.

James Schmehl of MLive Media Group was the first to report that the Pittsburgh Pirates were nearing a deal to acquire Joakim Soria.

The Tigers’ return from the Pirates had not yet been reported. The 31-year-old has a limited no-trade clause, but the Pirates aren’t one of the clubs that Soria can block a trade to.

Soria has pitched well so far this season, and has compiled a 2.85 ERA to go along with 23 saves and a 3.27 K/BB ratio.

He added that he never really paid so much attention on the rumors, especially on the web, about his trade.

Soria has been throwing harder this year and throwing his fastball more than ever, and the only flaw in his performance to date has been his bizarrely high home run rate, mostly on four-seamers. It was later discovered that the righty was suffering an undisclosed injury.

The Tigers general manager also clarified that they did not discuss any contract extension plans with Soria.

Closer Joakim Soria moves east in exchange for Double-A infielder JaCoby Jones.

Price and Soria will each be free agents at season’s end, and it was widely assumed that other teams would be making offers on these two players once they were officially on the market. He spoke in-depth about the tough process of actually becoming “sellers” before the Major League Baseball trade deadline, confirming that the team has reached a point where it has become more important to look to the future.

Soria will move into a setup role in a bullpen that already ranks among the league’s best.