What the Pirates Get in Gregory Soto

Soto had his best seasons as a closer with the Detroit Tigers in 2021 and 2022, earning back-to-back All-Star nods.

He posted a 3.39 ERA with 18 saves in 19 opportunities in 2021 and a 3.28 ERA and 30 saves in 33 opportunities in 2022.

Soto struggled with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 (4.42 ERA) and 2024 (4.02 ERA), before they traded him to Baltimore at that season's deadline.

One of the best things about Soto is his lack of injury history, featuring in at least 60 games the past five seasons.

He has appeared in 391 games in his career, posting a 15-34 record, with 56 saves in 68 opportunities, a 4.26 ERA in 378.1 innings pitched, 193 walks to 210 strikeouts, a .244 batting average allowed and a 1.44 WHIP.

Soto is also great against left-handed batters, with a .192 batting average allowed and a 1.04 WHIP in 2025, but struggles against right-handed batters, with a .307 batting average allowed and a 1.94 WHIP.

The Pirates will likely use Soto in situations where they're facing left-handed batters in high-leverage moments for a more favorable matchup.

Gregory Soto's Pitch Mix

Soto throws four pitches, using his sinker and slider the most, then also throwing a four-seam fastball and a sweeper.

He struggled with his sinker and fastball in 2025, giving up a .314 batting average on the sinker and a .417 batting average on the fastball. He reaches around 96-97 mph on his sinker and 97-98 on his fastball.

Soto excelled with his offspeed pitches, with a .156 batting average on his slider and a .111 batting average on his sweeper, with a whiff rate of 45.5% and 55.6% on those respective pitches.

40 of his 70 strikeouts came on the slider, giving up just two home runs, showing his effectiveness with the pitch.

Soto must improve on his sinker and four-seam fastball next season and will have new Pirates pitching coach Bill Murphy to work with that.

Soto Fills Big Need on Pirates Roster

The Pirates desperately need left-handed pitching in their ranks for next season, especially in their bullpen, where almost all of their arms are right-handed.

Evan Sisk is the only left-handed relief pitcher the Pirates have on their 40-man roster currently. Sisk had a 4.38 ERA over 14 appearances after coming in the trade for left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter from the Kansas City Royals at the deadline.

Pittsburgh also has one other left-handed pitcher on their 40-man roster in Hunter Barco, but he made just threw just three innings in two appearances in just six days spent with the team at the end of the season.

The Pirates did add another lefty in Tyler Samaniego to their 40-man roster before the Rule 5 Draft deadline on Nov. 18.

They eventually traded him to the Boston Red Sox on Dec. 4 along with right-handed starting pitcher Johan Oviedo and catcher Adonys Guzman for top 100 prospect in outfielder Jhostynxon García and 18-year old right-handed pitching prospect Jesus Travieso.

Pittsburgh will add more left-handed pitchers to their ranks this offseason, whether by free agency or even in trades, but Soto gives them at least one heading into 2026.