Orioles acquire Gregory Soto

[LockUpTheGunner]

If the Orioles can turn Jacob Webb into a good reliever, they can certainly work their magic with this guy. I like the move!

[wildcard]

Soto saved 30 games in 33 save opportunites  in 2022 for the Tigers.

[O's84]

See I have trouble getting excited about a guy who walks 5 batters per 9 innings.  

[orioles22]

This is the only trade I question. I think Johnson could have played a big role by 2026.

[Hazmat]

1 minute ago, orioles22 said:

This is the only trade I question. I think Johnson could have played a big role by 2026.

Far from a guarantee and doesn’t help us in 2 of Adley’s prime years.

[connja]

And Moises Chase.  I was excited about him.

[25 Nuggets]

42 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Soto saved 30 games in 33 save opportunites  in 2022 for the Tigers.

Eh, he also went 2-11 and gave up 5.1 BB/9 that year.

Kind of looks like he was an All Star in 2021-2022 just to be the rep for Detroit.

He can be an upgrade as a situational lefty but I do not want him closing.

[Winter]

1 hour ago, Just Regular said:

We tender everyone and I don't know what we are going to do during an offseason without pitcher spots to fill.

Opening Day 2025 bullpen?    Felix, Cano, G. Soto, Seranthony, Coulombe, McDermott...

I’d hope with the new ownership they’d be willing to spend some so these guys plus a high end reliever via free agency 

[baltimoriole]

1 hour ago, LookitsPuck said:

Gonna miss Seth Johnson. Soto can be a mess with his control. But when he’s on, he can be very good.

Sounds like cionel Perez to me.

[sportsfan8703]

11 hours ago, orioles22 said:

This is the only trade I question. I think Johnson could have played a big role by 2026.

Yup. But Johnson would be like 27 then. It’s better to get Soto for him now. 

[Frobby]

11 hours ago, O's84 said:

See I have trouble getting excited about a guy who walks 5 batters per 9 innings.  

Soto 5.1 BB/9

Johnson 4.8 BB/9 (in AA)

Chaco 5.2 BB/9 (in A*)

Which one are you having trouble getting excited about?

[terpoh]

49 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Soto 5.1 BB/9

Johnson 4.8 BB/9 (in AA)

Chaco 5.2 BB/9 (in A*)

Which one are you having trouble getting excited about?

Don’t have any more upvotes but that’s an awesome post.

[Aristotelian]

12 hours ago, O's84 said:

See I have trouble getting excited about a guy who walks 5 batters per 9 innings.  

Like Tanner Scott?

[CaptainRedbeard]

In the flurry of moves right before the buzzer last night, I think this one got lost in the shuffle and isn’t getting properly appreciated. The Jimenez/Slater/Pache collection was confusing and Jimenez broke right before and drew all the attention. 

Elias was a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat on this deal. Every team was in on Scott right down to the deadline. There were ZERO other high leverage lefty RP rumored available - maybe Nardi but he has a ton of control and the Marlins were probably asking a lot for him, they’re planning to make him closer and boost his value. It sure looked like every team whiffing on Scott was going to otherwise come up empty.

Soto isn’t as good as Scott, but make no mistake - he has a ridiculous arm and is devastating on lefties. He and Domínguez are cut from the same cloth in that they have walk issues and big platoon splits, but if they get their command together just enough they are capable on going on dominant stretches and carrying a pen through the playoffs. Soto is like an upgraded version of Cionel Perez - too many walks, but grounders and death to lefties - but he also brings a lot more K’s than Perez.

Elias pivoted quickly after missing on Scott (which was the right call, given how much Scott went for), and was aggressive in giving up two good arms. For a guy accused of prospect hugging, this and the Eflin deal show he is willing to aggressively deal  multiple solid prospects out of the middle tier of the system. He also smartly alleviated some 40-man crunch with Johnson, and Chace being Rule 5 eligible this offseason.

Add in that Soto has an extra year of control via arbitration and this deal is growing on me even more.

[CaptainRedbeard]

11 hours ago, baltimoriole said:

Sounds like cionel Perez to me.

He is Cionel Perez but he throws 99 instead of 97 and strikes out way more. He’s a better version of the same type of pitcher. Otherwise, it’s the same package - sinker/slider with platoon splits, too many walks, but tons of grounders and lefties can’t touch him.

Really good matchup option. I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot of Soto/Perez working the bottom of the Yankees lineup through Soto and Domínguez/Cano coming in to face Judge.