Mets Bolster Bullpen, Orioles Acquire Promising Prospects In Soto Trade

New York Mets Secure Veteran Lefty Gregory Soto from Baltimore Orioles, Eyeing Postseason Push While Orioles Focus on Future with Young Arms.

July 25, 2025: The New York Mets have made a strategic move to fortify their bullpen depth ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, acquiring veteran left-hander Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles. In exchange, the Mets are sending right-handed prospects Wellington Aracena (their No. 19 prospect) and Cameron Foster to Baltimore. This trade addresses one of the Mets’ key priorities: shoring up their relief corps with a proven, high-leverage arm without significantly depleting their farm system.

Mets’ Grade: A- – A Savvy Move for Bullpen Reinforcement
This deal is a big win for the New York Mets. Adding Gregory Soto provides a crucial boost to a bullpen that, while solid, could benefit from more reliable options alongside closer Edwin Diaz. While Soto’s surface-level stats this season with the Orioles (3.96 ERA, 1.294 WHIP) might not immediately impress, a deeper dive into his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 3.29 suggests he’s been a victim of bad luck. More importantly, Soto has a track record of elite performance, highlighted by his 3.28 ERA and All-Star selection in 2022 with the Detroit Tigers.

What truly elevates this trade for the Mets is the minimal cost. They’ve acquired a proven veteran without having to part with any of their elite prospects. This not only keeps their farm system strong but also preserves valuable trade assets, giving President of Baseball Operations David Stearns flexibility to pursue a bigger deal, potentially for a starting pitcher, before the deadline.

Orioles’ Grade: B – Selling Expiring Assets for Future Potential
For the Baltimore Orioles, this trade aligns perfectly with their current strategy of selling off expiring contracts in a challenging season. Moving Gregory Soto, who wasn’t a long-term piece for them, in exchange for young pitching makes a lot of sense. The Orioles have identified a need for more pitching depth in their system, and this deal helps address that.

Wellington Aracena is the centerpiece for the Orioles. At just 20 years old and currently in Low-A, he’s a long-term project but possesses significant upside. His impressive 2.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 17 appearances (eight starts) in St. Lucie this season indicate promising potential for a future spot in Baltimore’s rotation. However, it’s important to note that he’s still several years away from contributing at the big-league level.

The inclusion of Cameron Foster is what keeps this grade from being higher for the Orioles. While Foster dominated Double-A this season with a 1.01 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in 19 appearances, his brief stint in Triple-A was disastrous, as he surrendered seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings before being demoted. At 26, Foster is more of a high-risk, high-reward “flier” for Baltimore, hoping their scouting and development staff can unlock his Double-A success consistently.

Ultimately, while a good move for the Orioles in shedding an expiring contract and acquiring future-oriented pitching, fans will be hoping for bigger, more impactful trades as the team looks to climb out of its current slump.