The Mets Add Some Left-Handed Heat— Soto Joins the Bullpen (But Is There More to This Story?)

If you’ve been waiting for David Stearns to check off his midseason shopping list like he’s strolling through Costco with a fresh Sharpie, well, good news: he just crossed off the “left-handed reliever” line. And no, it’s not Juan Soto (again, still hitting), it’s Gregory Soto, a fireballing southpaw who once made All-Star hitters look like they were swinging a pool noodle.

The Mets acquired Soto from the Orioles on Friday in exchange for minor leaguers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster, a pair of pitching prospects with some upside, though based on the names alone you’d be forgiven for thinking one studied abroad at Oxford and the other rows crew on the weekends. Neither was exactly lighting up Top 100 lists, unless you play in a fantasy keeper league with 30 teams, a 600-player farm draft, and an Excel doc color-coded by elbow ligament integrity.

Now, this trade seems simple enough: the Mets bullpen, worn down by injuries and overuse, needed reinforcements. Soto fits the bill, a veteran with 384 career strikeouts over 354 innings, a 96+ MPH sinker, and two All-Star nods to his name. With Brooks Raley freshly back from his Tommy John tour, the Mets now have two lefties with closing experience. Not bad.

But let’s talk about what didn’t happen.

You can’t help but wonder, was this deal originally built to be bigger?

After all, the Orioles have an outfield logjam and the Mets have a very clear void in center field. If you’re scoring at home (or maybe just weary of watching Tyrone Taylor who is an elite defender but stretched as an everyday bat, grind through his 92nd game with a .209 average and .570 OPS), Cedric Mullins would’ve been a seamless fit. He plays elite defense, has 20/30 potential when healthy, and already knows what October smells like.

So, did Stearns try to make it a Soto-Mullins combo pack and get rebuffed? Was the ask too high? Did Baltimore want Jett Williams, a bag of gold, and a replica Shea Stadium scoreboard in return?

It wouldn’t be the first time a potential blockbuster got whittled down to a bullpen add-on. But now, with Mullins staying put in the AL East, it raises another question:

Does Stearns pivot to a bigger fish?

More specifically—does he turn his attention to Luis Robert Jr. ?

Before you roll your eyes and mumble, “Yeah, but he’s always hurt,” "He has been awful " let me just slide these numbers across the table like an offer you can’t refuse:

Last 28 days: .351 OBP, .486 SLG, 2 HR, 9 RBI in just 43 plate appearances

Last 14 days: .375 AVG, 1.053 OPS

Last 7 days: .444 AVG, .545 OBP, and a tidy little 1.157 OPS

Translation: Luis Robert Jr. is heating up like the Mets Twitter feed after a blown save, and if the White Sox are indeed open for business (which at this point, who isn’t?), Stearns would be smart to at least poke around. He’s 27, has Gold Glove upside, and brings the kind of five-tool potential that could anchor center field through the next presidential administration.

Back to Soto for a second, though—because he’s not just a “get me over” acquisition. His whiff rate ranks in the 87th percentile and he’s posted a 27.5% strikeout rate in 2025. Yes, the walks are high (11.3%), but when batters hit just .216 against you with a .343 SLG, you’re doing something right. And hey, he’s got a Barrel % in the 94th percentile meaning hitters aren’t exactly squaring him up unless they're lucky or named Acuña.

So yes, this move alone doesn’t guarantee October baseball. But it’s a start. It’s a move of intent.

One need has been addressed. The bullpen has a little more bite.

A center fielder.

A statement.

Luis Robert Jr. the kind of move that doesn’t just electrify the fan base but makes financial sense too. Signed through 2025 with team options for '26 and '27, he’s not a rental he’s a cornerstone. The contract is team-friendly. The upside is sky high. The message? We're not just buying we're building.

Gregory Soto may have arrived in Queens quietly. But don’t be surprised if this deal winds up being the undercard to a headliner still to come.