Gregory Soto trade grades: Mets bolster bullpen with two-time All-Star
Soto, 30, moves back to the NL East almost exactly a year after the Philadelphia Phillies traded him to Baltimore in a swap among contenders. He's been largely effective and occasionally dominant, striking out 44 in 36 innings and holding left-handed batters to a .138/.271/.276 line. Soto backfills a role in the Mets bullpen missing since top lefty A.J. Minter suffered a season-ending lat injury in May.
In exchange, the Orioles receive Class AAA right-hander Cameron Foster and Class A righty Wellington Aracena.
A breakdown of the deal:
Gregory Soto trade grades
Not a bad pickup given the Mets' relatively urgent need for a lefty amid a market that will only tighten leading up to the July 31 trade deadline. Soto is a veteran situational guy who was recently tabbed to fill in closer duties after Orioles fireballer Felix Bautista went on the injured list; Soto saved Thursday's game at Cleveland in his last appearance for Baltimore.
Yet in this three-batter minimum era, Soto may be exposed against the deep lineups among NL contenders. Opposing right-handers are getting on base at a .371 clip against him, with a .726 OPS, although he's yet to yield a homer to a right-handed batter. He pitches largely off a 96 mph fastball and excels at eliciting weak contact, with an elite 4.3% barrel percentage.
It's a totally OK pickup.
The distress sale continues at Camden Yards, as Soto joins righty Bryan Baker (traded to Tampa Bay) in a parade of exiting players likely to include All-Star slugger Ryan O'Hearn and right-handed starters Charlie Morton and Zach Eflin. In Foster, 26, they get a right-hander who likely will join Baltimore's bullpen almost immediately, as he pitched to a 0.83 WHIP at Class AA and recently earned a promotion to AAA. He's struck out 9.4 batters per nine innings since getting selected in the 2022 14th round out of McNeese State.
Aracena, 20, is a bit more of a lottery ticket, having spent the entire season at the Mets' Florida complex league affiliate in Port St. Lucie. He's shown well, however, striking out 84 in 64 innings (nine starts and eight relief appearances) on the strength of fastball that's touched 99 mph. He should land on an Orioles full-season affiliate club. Neither pitcher was ranked among the Mets' top 30 prospects by Baseball America.
Gregory Soto trade details
New York Mets receive
Baltimore Orioles receive
Gregory Soto contract
Gregory Soto is making $5.35 million this season and is eligible for free agency at year's end.
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