Pirates All 40: Gregory Soto Added to Boost the Bullpen
This is one in a series breaking down players on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.
Although most of the attention this offseason has been focused on improving the offense, the Pirates bolstered their bullpen when they signed Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million deal.
Soto began the 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles and was dealt to the New York Mets at the trade deadline for a pair of prospects. Combined between the two teams, the left-hander went 1-5 with a 4.18 ERA and one save. In 60.1 innings, he walked 24 and struck out 70.
Soto has split his seven-year career between four teams. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Detroit Tigers and was named an American League All-Star in back-to-back seasons from 2021-22 as a closing pitcher.
Detroit traded Soto to the Philadelphia Phillies following the 2022 season. He pitched one and a half seasons with the Phillies before he was traded to the Orioles in a deadline deal.
In 391 career appearances, Soto has a 4.26 ERA, 56 saves and 410 strikeouts in 378.1 innings.
Soto’s most notable attribute has been his durability. Since the start of the 2020 season, only three pitchers have made more appearances than his 358. He’s pitched in at least 60 games in each of the last five seasons.
The 30-year-old (31 next month) relies primarily on two pitches — a sinker that averages nearly 97 mph and a hard slider. He’ll also mix in a few four-seamers and sweepers.
Soto figures to be used late in games and in high leverage situations in the Pirates’ bullpen along with right-hander Dennis Santana. As the top left-handed option, he could get a handful of save opportunities against lefty-heavy matchups and on days where Santana is unavailable in the ninth.
Though he was the first bullpen addition for the Pirates this offseason, he may not be the only.
More about: Pirates