The New York Mets acquire veteran lefty Gregory Soto from the Orioles, trading away prospects Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. Learn how Soto’s skills fit into the bullpen mix and what the move means for both franchises.
⚾ Trade Announcement & Context
On July 25, 2025, the New York Mets acquired left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league RHPs Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster.
Soto, 30, has made 45 appearances for Baltimore in 2025 with a 3.96 ERA, 44 strikeouts over 36⅓ innings, 4.3% barrel percentage (94th percentile), and 31.1% whiff rate (87th percentile) metrics indicating high swing and miss ability.
🧠 Who Is Gregory Soto?
- Soto is a two-time All-Star (2021–22) who debuted in 2019 with the Detroit Tigers, then spent two seasons with the Phillies before landing in Baltimore.
- Over 366 career appearances, he holds a 4.24 ERA, 56 saves and has shown consistent dominance against left-handed hitters, who slump to a .138/.278/.276 line this year.
📉 Mets’ Motivation: Bullpen Needs Addressed
- The Mets had lost both A.J. Minter and Danny Young to season-ending surgeries, leaving Brooks Raley as their only healthy lefty in relief. Soto adds a reliable second southpaw with high-velocity and swing-miss stuff.
- President of baseball ops David Stearns emphasized bullpen upgrades as the top deadline priority.
🏁 Inside the Prospects Exchanged
Wellington Aracena (RHP, 20)
- Ranked No. 19 Mets prospect by MLB Pipeline
- Posted a 2.38 ERA in Single-A with 84 K, including over 60 innings with zero home runs allowed, despite walk concerns (~9.3 BB/9 reduced to ~4.9 this year).
Cameron Foster (RHP, 26)
- A 2022 14th-round pick
- 5–2 with 2.97 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A, 1.01 ERA in relief at Double-A, now near MLB-ready.
This package represents a mix of high-upside youth (Aracena) and near-term bullpen potential (Foster) for Baltimore as they enter sell-mode.
🔍 Is This Trade a Win for NY?
Pros for the Mets:
- Immediate bullpen reinforcement, especially against left-handed hitters and in high-leverage situations.
- Soto’s elite peripherals make him a weapon in tight NL East division and playoff race.
Cons:
- Giving up a high-ceiling arm in Aracena and a polished reliever in Foster could hamper future depth.
- Soto becomes a free agent after 2025, raising doubts over long-term value.
🧭 Bigger Picture: Mets & Orioles Goals
Mets: A shifting bullpen since June from leading MLB in bullpen ERA through May to posting a 4.52 ERA range—forced urgent action. Soto complements Raley, Edwin Díaz, Ryne Stanek, and Reed Garrett in a revamped relief unit .
Orioles: As sellers ahead of the July 31 deadline, they aim to recoup value for impending free agents while replenishing younger pitching depth.
🌐 Fan & Media Reactions
Mets fans on Reddit reacted positively:
“Aracena is a high potential arm, but you can develop 3 Aracenas out of the arms you just drafted. Worth the risk.”
Media analysts highlight Soto’s elite velocity (sitting 97+ mph) and command issues (walks ~4.5 per 9) as the trade’s upside/downside weighting .
📊 Soto’s Metrics & Fit in Mets Rotation
From Statcast & MLB analytics:
- Fastball averages around 97.1 mph, complemented by a sinker (~96.7 mph).
- Strikes out 27.5% of batters, walks at 11.3%, with ERA+ around 99—a slightly below league-average showing but strong raw stuff.
- Tough against left-handed batters, but room for improvement against righties.
— Gregory Soto (@Gregsoto30) January 8, 2023
🔎 Prospects Deep Dive: Aracena & Foster
Wellington Aracena
- Massive upside thanks to fastball and cutter; control is improving but remains the biggest concern. Still, elite velocity makes him a lottery ticket name.
Cameron Foster
- Age-relative-to-level concerns, but exceptional strikeout and walk rates in Double-A; advanced repertoire, especially a refined slider, may prompt MLB debut soon.
🔮 What’s Next for Mets & Soto?
- Soto fills immediate lefty need; Mets may still pursue additional bullpen help or even rotation depth before deadline closes .
- If Soto performs well, Mets could consider re-signing him in offseason (~$6M salary in 2025, potential arbitration or free agent deal later) .