Pirates sign lefthanded reliever Gregory Soto

Gregory Soto (Noticias SIN, Wikimedia Commons)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed lefthanded relief pitcher Gregory Soto of Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic to a one-year contract worth $7.75 million according to Rogers Sportsnet on Tuesday. Soto is the second pitcher who pitched for the Mets last season to switch teams this week. Also on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Edwin Diaz of Naguabo, Puerto Rico to a three-year deal worth $69 million. 

Soto is joining his fifth Major League Baseball team. He was previously with the Detroit Tigers (2019 to 2022), the Philadelphia Phillies (2023 to 2024), the Baltimore Orioles (2024 to 2025), and the New York Mets (2025).

In 2025, Soto shared his time with the Orioles and Mets. In 70 games, he had a record of one win and five losses with an earned run average of 4.18. During 60 1/3 innings pitched, Soto had one save, 23 holds, 70 strikeouts and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.43. During 60 1/3 innings pitched, he gave up 62 hits, 28 earned runs, four home runs and 24 walks.

Soto’s save was his last appearance in an Orioles uniform. On July 24, he threw one shutout inning and had two strikeouts in a 4-3 Orioles win over the Cleveland Guardians. Soto’s win came with the Mets. It came on August 12 in a 12-5 Mets win over the Atlanta Braves.

Twice while with the Tigers, Soto was an American League All-Star. The first time came in 2021 and the second time in 2022. What was remarkable about Soto’s 2022 All-Star appearance is the fact that he only had a record of two wins and 11 losses. Despite being nine games below .500, Soto still had 30 saves and a respectable ERA of 3.28, the lowest of his career.