The New York Yankees made a splash trade Friday afternoon, filling their hole at the hot corner by acquiring veteran Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for a couple of prospect pitchers. They were not the only NYC team to make a deal Friday, though.
The New York Mets added reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles, bringing the late-inning lefty back to a division in which he is quite familiar. Soto spent all of 2023 and a majority of 2024 with the division rival Philadelphia Phillies.
Soto, a two-time All-Star (2021, 2022), is changing addresses for the second straight July, as a deadline move sent him from Philadelphia to Baltimore last summer. So far this season, the hard-throwing 30-year-old has turned in a 3.96 ERA and 1.29 WHIP while striking out 44 batters across 36.1 innings.
Filling a void
The acquisition of Soto certainly does not fit the label of “blockbuster.” For the Mets, however, it addresses a definite need.
The Mets’ bullpen is largely built on a foundation of experienced right-handers such as closer Edwin Diaz, Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and so on. Seasoned southpaw A.J. Minter was brought in on a relatively lucrative free-agent contract back in the offseason, but he has been on the IL since April due to an injured lat muscle and will not return this year.
Dominating left-handed hitters is Soto’s calling card. He has stifled same-sided batters to the tune of a .138 AVG so far this season, registering 22 punchouts in 70 opportunities (31.4%) against them. That is nothing short of elite.
Perhaps Soto’s stuff a couple of weeks ago opposite the Mets convinced them he was one of their guys.
