The Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies got down to business again before the trade deadline. What the Phillies had to offer was another relief pitcher, except their return this time was a little different. The Orioles acquired another very good reliever in Gregory Soto. In return, they gave the Phillies two pitching prospects. The more noticeable of the two is Seth Johnson. He was ranked the No. 8 prospect in the Orioles system and will report to Double-A Redding.
Orioles Continue to Strengthen Bullpen
The Orioles continued to address its issue of a struggling bullpen with the addition of Soto. The team previously added Seranthony Domínguez a few days earlier. They must have thought they needed to add more as they chose to cough up a top-ten prospect in their system for Soto.
Soto is a two-time All-Star who has some strong seasons under his belt as well as a strong pitching arsenal. His two best seasons came when he was a closer for the Detroit Tigers from 2021-22, combining for 48 saves. In his season and a half with the Phillies, however, he has spent most of his time as a reliever.
Soto possesses a four-pitch arsenal that mainly relies on his sinker and slider. He also has a four-seam fastball in the high 90’s. He is averaging 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and has only given up two home runs. However, this season he currently has his second-worst WHIP of his career, and control could be an issue. The average WHIP this season sits around 1.270 and Soto’s is at a whopping 1.585. In only 35.1 innings pitched he has already given up 36 hits. If Soto does not improve, then the Orioles overspent for him. However, if he can find any of his form from his two All-Star seasons with the Tigers then he can help the Orioles bullpen.
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