Gregory Soto traded to Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies continued to bolster their bullpen on Saturday, signing two-time All-Star Gregory Soto to a five-player deal from the Tigers.

In addition to Soto, Philadelphia will acquire outfielder Matt Biering, utility player Nick Maiton and catcher Donny Sands (the Phillies’ No. 21 prospect in the MLB pipeline) in exchange for infielder Cody Clemens.

Phillies get: LHP Gregory Soto, INF Cody Clemens
Tigers get: UTIL Nick Maton, OF Matt Vierling, C Donny Sands (Phillies prospective No. 21)

With a 3.28 ERA and 30 saves for the Tigers last season, Soto is one of the hardest lefties to throw in the majors. His Four Seams His fastball averaged 98.7 mph last season, making him his second fastest pitch among southpaws. This is second only to his new teammate Jose his Alvarado sinker (99.6 mph).

These two flamethrower left-handers share the bullpen with right-hander Seranthony Dominguez.

The move to sign Soto comes just two days after the club introduced veteran right-hander Craig Kimbrel, who ranks seventh on the all-time list with 394 career saves.

This will give manager Rob Thomson plenty of options to close out the game. Baseball operations president Dave Dombrowski has admitted that one of his goals for the club this offseason is to stockpile as many relievers with leveraged experience in the bullpen back end. rice field.

When Kimbrel was introduced on Thursday, Dombrowski said, “I feel ready to make a really good bullpen.” I think it’s very important.”

Soto certainly joins that group, but he tends to keep things interesting. He averages 5.3 walks per game. His strikeout rate also dropped from 29.6% for him in 2020 and 27.5% for him in ’21 to 22.8% for him in ’22. He also allowed an average exit speed of 91.4 mph, the sixth highest among 358 eligible pitchers.

Still, Soto’s numbers are numbers that help the Phillies’ bullpen, and while they strengthened in the club’s 2022 NL pennant run, they posted a 3.97 ERA last season overall. However, he has made a slight step forward from 2021 (4.39 ERA, 19th) and dramatically improved from a dismal 2020 season (5.14, 27th).

The relief team shone when Thomson first took over after the Phils parted ways with Joe Girardi on June 3. From that point through the end of July, Penn posted a 3.51 ERA, eighth-highest in MLB. It’s been a good mark. As the team battled injuries, the relief pitcher put up a 4.99 ERA in August and a 4.62 mark in September.

But when the Phillies leaned more heavily on their high-leverage arm in the postseason, Penn responded with a 2.62 ERA in 68 2/3 innings.

David Robertson (signed with the Mets), Zach Eflin (Rays) and Brad Hand (free agency) are currently absent, but the Phils have filled the group with Soto, Kimbrel, Matt Strahm and Eric Yulmen, who was acquired from the Cubs. Wednesday.

As for the rest of Soto’s deal, Feeling, despite serving as the Phillies’ starting center fielder last season, has been criticized for left-handed pitching after the trade deadline acquired outfielder Brandon Marsh. was relegated to the platoon competition.

Mutton, meanwhile, provided valuable innings in August and September as the Phillies weathered major injuries in one fell swoop. Naturally an infielder, he made his 10 appearances in each corner outfield spot in place of Kyle Schwalber and Nick Castellanos, as well as second, third and shortstop.

Clemens, the son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, offered similar versatility in Detroit last season.The 26-year-old played first, second, third base and left field. 145/.197/.308 in seven more pitching appearances, and had 127 plate appearances after making his MLB debut in May. He finished 31st last season.