Blue Jays steal pitching option from Cubs in Angels trade right after Kevin Gausman deal

Right-hander Jose Soriano, who started the season in dominant fashion before coming back to earth in the summer months and was a rumored trade target of the Chicago Cubs, has a new home. The Los Angeles Angels sent the 27-year-old hurler to the Toronto Blue Jays in a move with far-reaching implications.

In exchange, Toronto sent shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, minor league putfielder Eddie Mitcheletti and minor league pitcher Angel Rivero. Nimmala, the Blue Jays #2-ranked prospect is the headliner in the return. Mitcheletti and Rivero both fell outside the organization's top-30, according to MLB Pipeline.

Cubs should be encouraged by Angels' asking price on Jose Soriano

The Cubs had been connected to Soriano, but seem to have a heavier interest in a different Angels pitcher, Reid Detmers, who, like Soriano, comes with multiple years of team control. After acquiring Kevin Gausman from Toronto on Sunday, Jed Hoyer would still like to land a controllable starter and reinforce the late innings - so there's plenty of work to be done as the clock ticks down.

It's encouraging to see the Blue Jays avoid giving top prospect JoJo Parker in the trade, suggesting the asking price on Detmers may be slightly more palatable than we initially thought. Nimmala is the game's 43rd-ranked prospect, so it's not like Toronto snagged the righty for nothing, but I expected multiple top-10 organizational prospects to be the asking price for both pitchers.

If we're talking prospect comps, this is akin to Jefferson Rojas headlining a package. Given the Cubs' long-term stability around the infield, trading Rojas to land a long-term piece ahead of the trade deadline Monday evening would be more than palatable, in my opinion.

Toronto seems to have a foot in each camp, simultaneously buying and selling with an eye on 2027 and beyond. In Soriano, they gain a long-term rotation piece as they look to return to contention next season after a disappointing showing this season. The Blue Jays entered Monday in last place in the AL East at 52-60, 13 1/2 games back of Tampa Bay.

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