After the first major domino of the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline fell on Thursday night, we’ve got our second notable deal of the week, with the Mets acquiring hard-throwing lefty Gregory Soto from the Orioles. Soto was the Tigers’ closer back in 2022, but he’ll obviously stay in his current set-up role with New York, barring any late season injury to Edwin Diaz. Across 36.1 innings in Baltimore this season, Soto possessed a 3.96 ERA and a 3.29 FIP with a 27.5% strikeout rate.
Let’s break down the rest of this trade and what it means for both sides.
The Orioles received two prospects in the Gregory Soto trade
SP Wellington Aracena
Aracena is the headliner from a prospect perspective in this deal, as the 20-year-old was listed at No. 19 on MLB Pipeline’s recent prospect rankings. An international signee out of the Dominican Republic in 2022, Aracena has spent the entirety of 2025 in Single-A, racking up a notable 84 strikeouts in just 64.1 innings of work. Aracena won’t be a factor at the MLB level for a number of years.
RP Cameron Foster
Foster isn’t a marquee name, as he’s somewhat old for a prospect. Still, the former 14th-round pick has a much better chance than Aracena of helping the Orioles in the immediate. Foster was recently called up to Triple-A by the Mets after a stunning couple of months in Double-A, where the RHP maintained a 1.01 ERA and a 1.26 FIP across 19 appearances and 26.2 innings. Foster’s slider is a legit strikeout weapon and the McNeese State product has a chance to be a mid-tier bullpen arm in the near future.
Will the Mets trade more players at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline?
You’d have to assume things are just getting started for New York, as the team will continue to look to strengthen itself for another October run at a World Series.
Bullpen continues to be an area of need with the Mets, even after picking up Soto. Since June 1, New York’s relievers have combined for a 5.02 ERA that ranks 26th in MLB. The season-ending injuries to Max Kranick and A.J. Minter still loom large.
