The Chicago Cubs made a significant move ahead of last week's trade deadline by acquiring starting pitcher Mike Soroka. However, this decision has already encountered challenges as Soroka exited his debut start with the Cubs after just two innings due to shoulder discomfort and has now been placed on the injured list.

Jed Hoyer, the Cubs' president of baseball operations, acknowledged the trade's potential pitfalls in retrospect. 'We knew the velocity was trending down,' Hoyer stated during a recent interview. 'We discussed that extensively. Given the market and the asking price, we felt like it was a good bet to make. Right now, it's not looking like a good bet.' This analysis comes after Soroka's recent performance with the Washington Nationals, where he experienced a decrease in velocity that suggested he might be dealing with an underlying injury.

Despite undergoing an MRI that revealed no significant injuries, Soroka currently holds a 3-8 record with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 17 starts in the current season. The duration of his absence from the rotation remains uncertain, and a long-term injury could hinder the Cubs' aspirations for a deep postseason run.