ORLANDO, Fla. – Whereas the principle focus this offseason has been on bettering the offense, the Pirates’ first free agent signing is as a substitute addressing a key want within the bullpen.
The membership on Tuesday introduced it had signed two-time All-Star Gregory Soto to a one-year deal that is value $7.75 million, in accordance with a supply.
Soto, 30, provides the Pirates not solely a much-needed further leverage arm, but additionally the southpaw the bullpen was missing.
Soto is coming off a marketing campaign the place he went 1-5 with a 4.18 ERA over 70 video games, totaling 60 1/3 innings for the Orioles and Mets. Whereas his ERA has been north of 4.00 the final three seasons after posting back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2021 and 2022, most of his peripherals graded out properly. That included holding hitters to a 4% barrel fee – which put him within the 97th percentile of pitchers – a 31.5% chase fee and 29.9% whiff fee. That yielded 70 strikeouts and a wholesome 25.1% strikeout fee.
He did have some pronounced hand splits in 2025, although. Proper-handed batters had an .801 OPS in opposition to him final season, whereas left-handers hit .192 with a .549 OPS.
When Soto clicks, he pitches off of his sinker that sits within the mid- to upper-90s and his wipeout slider, which had a forty five.5% whiff fee. He’ll additionally combine in a four-seam fastball and a sweeper. Batters hit .314 off the sinker this 12 months, however that common was simply .200 in 2023. The pitch profiles equally when it comes to motion, however it’s a tick slower, going from a mean of 98.1 mph to 96.8 mph.
Lacking out on Kyle Schwarber opened up the Pirates once more on the free agent market, and whereas upgrading the offense is the best precedence, including a lefty to the combo was necessary as nicely. The bullpen’s potential leverage arms encompass Dennis Santana, Isaac Mattson and Justin Lawrence, all of whom are right-handed, and Soto provides the membership somebody who can handle lefties. The Pirates chosen the contract of lefty reliever Tyler Samaniego earlier this winter, however included him as a part of a commerce with the Pink Sox for Jhostynxon Garcia.
The Pirates’ bullpen is predicted to look completely different in 2026 than it did in the beginning of 2025. Gone are the Opening Day de facto nearer and setup man, David Bednar and Colin Holderman. Reliever prospects Brandan Bidois and Ryan Harbin have had their contract chosen and been added to the roster. The backend of the bullpen is probably nonetheless in flux, however Soto ought to determine to be a part of that blend.
