Cubs add pitching depth with Michael Soroka, Andrew Kittredge

The Chicago Cubs bolstered their pitching staff ahead of Thursday's trade deadline by adding right-handers Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals and Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles.

Washington received minor league infielder Ronny Cruz and outfielder Christian Franklin in the Soroka trade announced Wednesday night. Baltimore got minor league infielder Wilfri De La Cruz in return for Kittredge in a trade announced Thursday.

An All-Star in 2019 with Atlanta, the 27-year-old Soroka is 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA this season for the Nationals, who signed him to a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason. He should provide depth in the Cubs' rotation behind Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga.

The Canadian is 20-26 with a 3.91 ERA in six major league seasons. He tore his right Achilles tendon on a routine fielding play in 2020, and then injured the same tendon while walking into Atlanta’s ballpark the following year. He missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Soroka went 0-10 with a 4.74 ERA last season for the Chicago White Sox.

The 35-year-old Kittredge was an All-Star in 2021 and has a 3.44 ERA over nine seasons. The reliever has a 3.45 ERA in 31 games this season. He signed a $9 million, one-year deal with Baltimore last offseason that includes a $9 million club option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout.

The Cubs trail the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by one game after beating them 10-3 earlier Wednesday. Chicago gave a contract extension on Monday to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who has assembled an entertaining squad led by breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs have not won a playoff series since 2017, the year after they won their first World Series in 108 years.

The Nationals are last in the NL East and fired general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez earlier this month.

Soroka was pulled after allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings Tuesday night at Houston as the Nationals shopped him. He has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.

Washington also dealt relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García to the Los Angeles Angels for prospects earlier Wednesday, and veterans Kyle Finnegan, Josh Bell and Paul DeJong are candidates to be traded before Thursday's deadline.

The 18-year-old Cruz joins Washington's farm system after batting .270 this season for the Cubs’ Rookie-level Arizona Complex League squad. The 25-year-old Franklin is batting .265 with eight homers this season for Triple-A Iowa.

The 17-year-old De La Cruz was one of Chicago's top international signings in 2025 as a switch-hitter with power potential. He was ranked the Cubs' 20th-best prospect by Baseball America prior to the trade.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge delivers during the eighth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Michael Soroka throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rudy Gobert had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo made a clutch 3-pointer with 28 seconds remaining and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Golden State Warriors 127-120 on Friday night.

Stephen Curry scored 39 for the Warriors after missing the previous five games with a bruised left quadriceps, but Minnesota held on even without injured star Anthony Edwards (right foot soreness).

DiVincenzo finished with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists in the first meeting between the teams since the Timberwolves eliminated the Warriors in the second round of the playoffs last season.

Julius Randle had 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Minnesota. Naz Reid added 18 points and seven assists off the bench.

Quinten Post scored 16 points for Golden State. Jimmy Butler had 15 points and eight rebounds.

The game featured 27 lead changes, tied for second-most in the NBA this season, and both teams played short-handed. The Timberwolves were without Edwards, while the Warriors were missing injured Draymond Green.

Minnesota grabbed momentum in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves opened the final period with a 20-7 run and led by 10 with five minutes to go before Curry and Moses Moody connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Warriors to 108-104.

Golden State briefly led 118-117 following Curry’s free throw with 1:37 remaining, but Gobert had a go-ahead dunk and DiVincenzo made it 123-118 on his 3 with 28 seconds to play as the Wolves closed with a 10-2 surge.

Curry got going quickly in his return. The two-time NBA scoring champ made his first three shots and scored eight of the Warriors' first 12 points.

Timberwolves: Host the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Warriors: Play the Trail Blazers in Portland on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, reacts from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves the ball while defended by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte Divincenzo (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) shoots while defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots between Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)