The New York Mets have struck first in the NY baseball rush for bullpen help, reportedly acquiring LHP Gregory Soto from the Orioles in exchange for two prospects.
Per Andy Martino of SNY, the Mets will send RHPs Wellington Arecena and Cameron Foster back to Baltimore.
Soto, 30, has a 3.96 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings for Baltimore this season, and has run a 9.8 K/9 ratio over his parts of seven years in the bigs. He is a rental who is owed just under $2 million the rest of the season, and the Mets are hopeful he can be the power lefty relief arm they need.
Arecena, 20, was originally an undrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic and has spent this season at Low-A St. Lucie, going 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings over 17 outings (eight starts).
Foster, 26, was the Mets’ 14th-round pick in 2022. He has spent most of this season at Double-A Binghamton, going 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA, 2 saves, and 34 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings over 19 relief outings.
He also has made two appearances at Triple-A Syracuse that did not go well, as he has allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.