Soto struck out two in a clean ninth inning to pick up the save during Thursday's 4-3 win over the Guardians.
The first save opportunity since Felix Bautista (shoulder) hit the injured list went to Soto, and he delivered an impressive inning, sending the Guardians down in order with the help of a pair of strikeouts. It was his first save on the season in his second chance, as he blew his other opportunity June 24 against the Rangers. The left-hander has a 3.96 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 36.1 innings pitched. Soto should be in the mix for saves however long Bautista is sidelined, though the trade deadline could further shake up Baltimore's high-leverage mix.
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Mets' Gregory Soto: Sent to Mets
Rotowire
The Mets acquired Soto from the Orioles on Friday in exchange for pitching prospects Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The veteran left-hander is on the move at the trade deadline for a second consecutive year after being dealt from Philadelphia to Baltimore in 2024. Soto has served as a setup man for the Orioles this season with one save and 18 holds, and he has a 3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB over 36.1 innings. He should fill a similar role in Queens in front of closer Edwin Diaz.
Orioles' Gregory Soto: Working as left-handed specialist
Rotowire
Soto covered a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with no strikeouts in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Rays.
With Baltimore's bullpen essentially at full strength, the Orioles have mostly deployed Soto as a left-handed specialist. Soto has now worked less than one inning in 21 of his 43 outings this season, and he's recorded more than two outs on just one occasion through his first seven appearances in July. Soto has a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB to go with 18 holds across 34.1 innings, which at least offers him some appeal in fantasy leagues that count holds.
Orioles' Gregory Soto: Fans three in scoreless appearance
Rotowire
Soto struck out three in a scoreless sixth inning during Monday's 7-1 loss to the Rays, allowing one baserunner on a hit batsman.
Soto had a shaky start to June, serving up a home run in his first outing of the month, but he's now rattled off six scoreless appearances in a row since then. The hard-throwing left-hander had a 4.67 ERA for the season as of May 23, but he's improved that mark to a healthier 3.51 to go with a 1.21 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB over 25.2 innings following Monday's effort. Soto has been a key setup man for closer Felix Bautista with 15 holds, the third-highest figure for this category in the American League so far.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Continues to work in setup role
Rotowire
Soto threw a clean eighth inning Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out one.
Soto continues to work as a setup man for closer Felix Bautista, picking up his ninth hold of the season Wednesday. Through his first 16.2 innings of the year, Soto owns a 3.78 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB. The hard-throwing 30-year-old remains one of Baltimore's top left-handed relievers, but he's without a single save opportunity over 19 appearances on the campaign.
Orioles' Gregory Soto: Logs another scoreless outing
Rotowire
Soto picked up a hold Saturday against the Blue Jays after throwing a clean eighth inning, striking out one batter.
Soto made quick work of the heart of Toronto's order to preserve a 5-4 lead, retiring Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez and George Springer on just nine pitches. It was the first hold of the campaign for Soto, who has now hurled six scoreless innings to go with a 9:2 K:BB so far. The hard-throwing left-hander is one of Baltimore's top setup men and remains a candidate for the occasional save chance when closer Felix Bautista is unavailable, but the Orioles didn't see their first save opportunity of the season until Saturday's contest.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde named Soto as an option to see save chance early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Bautista will not be allowed to appear in back-to-back games or pitch more than one inning at a time for a while as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, and Hyde said he'll "mix and match" at closer those days. The skipper named Andrew Kittredge (knee) and Seranthony Dominguez in addition to Soto as relievers who could see save opportunities when Bautista is off limits.
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Orioles' Gregory Soto: Avoids hearing with O's
Rotowire
Soto agreed to a one-year, $5.35 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
After being sent to Baltimore from Philadelphia at the trade deadline, Soto turned in a 5.09 ERA and 1.53 WHIP alongside a 21:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings before covering a scoreless two-thirds of an innings during his lone playoff appearance. His poor performance will net him just a $350,000 raise in his final year of arbitration eligibility, and he appears destined to work in middle relief next season.
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