The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed relief pitcher Gregory Soto to a one-year contract worth $7.75 million. Jorge Castillo of ESPN first broke the story. The team hasn’t announced the move as of this writing.

Report: Pirates Pivot from Adding Hitting, Sign All-Star Relief Pitcher
Pirates Sign Reliever Soto

With the news that Pirates target Kyle Schwarber re-upped with the Philadelphia Phillies today, general manager Ben Cherington turned his focus to the bullpen and added Soto. Fans may have preferred a different Soto, namely, Juan Soto. However, left-handed relief pitching had also been an area of need, despite being overshadowed by the need for offense. Last month, Cherington added Joe La Sorsa on a minor league deal, but clearly, he wasn’t finished. With Soto, who will turn 31 in February, he now has a more experienced alternative.

 

The Pirates and left-hander Gregory Soto agree on a one-year, $7.75 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Soto, 30, had a 4.18 ERA in 70 appearances for the Orioles and Mets last season.

— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) December 10, 2025

 

Whether that means Cherington has landed an effective relief option remains to be seen. Last season, Soto was 1-5 in 70 games, with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.425 WHIP. However, an above-average 3.42 FIP indicates he may have been victimized by poor support or bad luck. Soto began 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles and was traded to the New York Mets at the deadline. His work with Baltimore, where he posted a 3.96 ERA, 3.33 FIP, and 1.294 WHIP, was a little better. Soto made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2019. Subsequently, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, where he was part of another midseason trade that landed him in Baltimore in 2024. He did his best work with the Tigers, where he was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022, recording 48 saves over that period.

For his career, Soto, who stands at six-foot-one, 234 pounds, is 15-34 with 56 saves, a 4.26 ERA, 3.95 FIP, and 1.435 WHIP. He has a good arm, but hasn’t matched that with good control, even in his years with Detroit. He’s got a healthy 24.3 percent strikeout rate for his career. However, that comes with an ugly 11.4 percent walk rate.

Why Soto?

Merely speculating as to what may have made Soto attractive to the Pirates, one notes that in 2025, left-handed hitters slashed just .192/.280/.269 against him. PNC Park’s deep left field may help Soto against right-handed swingers. Additionally, he didn’t give up an earned run in 55 of his 70 games. When he was good, he was very good. He has a seven-pitch arsenal but relies primarily on a sinking fastball and a slider. The sinker averaged 96.8 mph last season, a tick below his four-seamer, which averaged 97.1 mph. Opposing batters touched up that sinker to the tune of a .314 batting average and .362 wOBA. More effective was his slider (.151 BA, .226 wOBA) and his seldom-used sweeper (.167 BA, .287 wOBA, .033 xBA, .198 xwOBA).  New pitching coach Bill Murphy may tilt Soto’s pitch usage more toward breaking stuff, and in turn, Pittsburgh may have an effective left-hander.

Meanwhile, it’s fair to wonder whether the Pirates overpaid for Soto. Last season, they spent $4.15 million to get two experienced left-handed relievers in Caleb Ferguson and Tim Mayza. Soto made $5.35 million last season. He was a first-time free agent.

No corresponding roster move will be necessary for the Pirates to make room for Soto after they waived Will Robertson last week.

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