The Pittsburgh Pirates have struck in free agency for the first time this winter, agreeing to a one-year, $7.75 million deal with left-handed reliever Gregory Soto, a source confirmed to Pittsburgh Baseball Now. The deal is pending a physical.
Soto, who turns 31 in February, split the 2025 season between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. In a career-high 70 appearances, he had a 4.18 ERA and struck out 70 batters in 60.1 innings.
Soto, a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers from 2021-22, has spent seven seasons in the big leagues with four teams. In 391 career appearances, he’s gone 15-34 with a 4.26 ERA, 56 saves, 410 strikeouts and 193 walks in 378.1 innings.
Soto has proven to be a durable reliever throughout his career. Since the start of the 2021 season, only five pitchers have pitched in more games than his 331.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Soto relies primarily on a power sinker and a slider. He’ll also mix in an occasional four-seam fastball and sweeper.
The Pirates had a need for a left-handed relief option with only two southpaws on the 40-man roster after trading Tyler Samaniego to the Boston Red Sox as part of a five-player swap. Soto held lefty batters to a .192 batting average and a .549 OPS this past season and a .200 batting average/.600 OPS in his career.
With the addition of Soto, the Pirates could still be in the market for a leverage reliever to pair with Dennis Santana in the back of the bullpen. And of course, offense remains the priority for Pittsburgh this offseason.
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