Jazz Chisholm Jr. breaks down new Mets reliever Gregory Soto: 'He’s one of the best'

Hey Jazz Chisholm Jr., did you know that you have the most at-bats of any Yankee against Gregory Soto?

“Yeah,” Chisholm says, standing in the Yankee dugout Friday afternoon. “And probably the least amount of hits.”

Well, tied for the least, with zero. But Chisholm is a very nice person, and is willing to provide a scouting report on the Mets’ newest acquisition.

The Mets acquired Soto on Friday from Baltimore for a pair of minor leaguers. It was the first of what will almost certainly be multiple trades to improve the bullpen.

Soto, 30, has a 3.96 earned run average this season. A hard sinker highlights his repertoire. He is known for both strikeouts and walks. Chisholm knows from firsthand experience how nasty he can be.

“You don’t have to tell me the numbers,” Chisholm said of Soto. “I bet I know. Oh for thirteen?”

Well, 0-for-10 with six strikeouts. So what makes Soto so tough? He’s a sinker/slider guy, right?

“Sinker, slider, cutter, sweeper, all of those,” Chisholm says. “He throws everything. For me,  I feel like when he faces me, he doesn’t really miss down the middle.”

Chisholm pauses for a moment. “I thought we were going to trade for him, I don’t know.”

Chisholm is told that the Yankees are likely to add multiple relievers before next weekend’s deadline. He says that he knows.

He concludes: “I like [Soto] as a pitcher a lot. For me, he’s one of the best pitchers.”

History! Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz unbelievably hits four homers vs. Astros

History! Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz unbelievably hits four homers vs. Astros originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Nick Kurtz might have locked up the American League Rookie of the Year Award on Friday night in Houston.

The Athletics rookie crushed four homers, collected six hits and drove in eight runs in a 15-3 win over the Astros at Daikin Park.

Kurtz is the first player in the long, storied history of the Athletics franchise to hit four homers in a game and the first rookie ever to accomplish the feat.

The 2024 first-round draft pick now is the 20th player in MLB history to go deep four times in a game and the youngest by nearly three years.

Moments after his historic performance, Kurtz had trouble finding the words to describe what he had just accomplished.

“It’s hard to think about this day being, you know, kind of real,” Kurtz told Chris Caray and Dallas Braden on “A’s Cast” following the win. “Still feels like a dream. So it’s just, it’s pretty remarkable. I’m kind of speechless. I don’t really know what to say.”

Kurtz is authoring one of the greatest starts to an MLB career, as he now has 22 homers and 59 RBI in his first 66 big-league games to along with a 1.060 OPS following Friday’s performance.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay has seen a lot in nearly 30 years in professional baseball, but nothing quite stacks up to what Kurtz did Friday night.

“I don’t really know how to describe that one,” Kotsay told reporters in Houston. “It’s arguably the best game I’ve ever watched from a single player. And I say that because, I watched Barry Bonds and the season he had. I was in center field for it. And what Barry did was hands-down one of the greatest seasons you can have.

“Shawn Green is a memory you have, I think Shawn hit four homers in a game in Dodger Stadium. But tonight was special. This kid continues to have jaw-dropping moments. And to witness that tonight was pretty special for all of us.”

The Athletics took Kurtz with the No. 4 overall pick on July 14 last year, and they clearly hit a home run with that selection.

Just over a year later, the Wake Forest product arguably is the hottest big-league hitter at the moment.

It’s a remarkable ascension for the 22-year-old.

“It’s absolutely crazy,” Kurtz told Caray and Braden. “To think a year ago I was probably in Arizona right now, right after the draft and just getting ready to go out and play in Stockton and now I’m here and today kind of happened, it’s insane. I kinda, I don’t know what to say Dallas. I mean I got no idea.”

Maybe even more remarkable is that Kurtz’s family made it to Houston just in time to watch his otherworldly performance.

“To see Pops and Mom there and the godparents as well, it’s pretty awesome to have them here,” Kurtz told Caray and Braden. “[They] just got in this morning, so going to be here is really cool.”

There are over two months left in the 2025 season, but it might be a safe bet to start inscribing Kurtz’s name on the AL Rookie of the Year award. He has been that good over the last few weeks.

Mets call up LHP José Castillo, option RHP Alex Carrillo to Triple-A

The Mets made their first move of the 2025 MLB trade deadline earlier Friday by acquiring LHP Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles, but made another transaction to get a second lefty in the bullpen right away.

New York selected LHP José Castillo to the roster for their matchup with the San Francisco Giants and optioned RHP Alex Carrillo to Triple-A Syracuse yesterday, the team announced.

Castillo, 29, owns a 2.38 ERA over 11.1 IP and 13 appearances with the Mets this season. He was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks in May and later DFA'd on June 25. The lefty returned on a minor league deal and has pitched to a 1.69 ERA over 5.1 IP across five outings with Syracuse in July.

Carrillo has pitched in three big league games, most recently on July 18 when he allowed five earned runs on three hits over 1.1 innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He owns a 13.50 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with four strikeouts over 4.2 IP.

Additionally, the Mets transferred RHP Max Kranick to the 60-day IL after losing him for the rest of the season to Tommy John surgery.

How Mets’ bullpen shapes up after landing LHP Gregory Soto from Orioles

Bullpen, bullpen, and more bullpen. 

We knew that was going to be the Mets’ top priority this trade deadline season. 

David Stearns made that clear during his press conference last week at Citi Field, and the president of baseball operations has already stayed true to his word. 

The Mets pulled off their first deal of this deadline season on Friday, acquiring left-hander Gregory Soto from the Orioles, as first reported by SNY’s Andy Martino. 

In exchange, the Mets sent Baltimore a pair of intriguing right-handed pitching prospects with upside in 26-year-old Cameron Foster and 20-year-old Wellington Arecena.

While it’s a bit of a hit to the depth in the system, Soto is a very strong addition for this group. 

The 30-year-old is a power southpaw who has had his share of ups-and-down over his career, but posses big swing-and-miss stuff and has plenty of experience pitching in high-leverage innings. 

He struggled his first two years, but finally broke onto the scene during the 2021 campaign -- securing the Tigers closers role as he saved 48 games and logged his lone All-Star appearances the next two seasons.

Soto ended up being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, whom he spent a year and a half with before ultimately being shipped off to the Orioles ahead of the 2023 deadline. 

He had a bit of an up-and-down start to his time in Baltimore, but has been relatively effective this season, especially against left-handed hitters -- whom he has held to a .138 batting average and .547 OPS. 

Soto isn’t quite as effective against righties, but the Orioles did a good job of limiting his exposure to them, so Carlos Mendoza will just have to be sure to call upon him in the correct spots. 

Either way, he gives Mendy a bit of flexibility and a strong second lefty option out of the ‘pen.

With Soto joining the mix, here’s how things will likely stand:

- RHP Edwin Díaz

- RHP Reed Garrett

- LHP Brooks Raley

- LHP Gregory Soto

- RHP Ryne Stanek

- RHP José Buttó

- RHP Huascar Brazobán

** On the Bubble: RHP Rico Garcia, LHP Jose Castillo

It seems like Soto won't be active for Friday's series opener in San Fran, but when he does eventually arrive you have to figure that either Garcia or Castillo will be the corresponding roster move.

Castillo seems like the more likely option of the two being that he is also left-handed, and he was just called up on Friday with hard-throwing righty Alex Carrillo heading down to Triple-A.

With the arms that end up staying, though, this is shaping up to be a very solid group down the stretch and according to numerous reports more help appears to be on the way.

Stearns isn’t stopping with Soto, reports have indicated that he'll continue to look to add more relief help leading right up to the July 31 deadline. 

It remains to be see whether that’ll be in the form of a big splash such as David Bednar, Emmanuel Clase, or Jhoan Duran or a bit of cheaper option like Griffin Jax, Dennis Santana, or Andrew Kittredge

Either way, it’s become obvious that Stearns is ready to add to this club.

According to Martino, the Mets also remain in the market for an upgrade in center field, but adding another third baseman is looking like more of a long shot at this point.

It’ll be interesting to see how things play out in the coming days.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Drake Baldwin, Ryan McMahon and Kyle Bradish

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Drake Baldwin (C Braves): Rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues

Even for those who weren’t fortunate enough to land Cal Raleigh, it’s been pretty easy to get solid production from the catcher spot in one-backstop leagues this year, easy enough that most seem too content to make a change at this point. For that reason, Baldwin remains available in 80 percent of Yahoo leagues, even after the Braves turned him into a full-time player by putting Marcell Ozuna on the bench last weekend. He’s since started seven straight games, four at catcher and three at DH.

With Ozuna seemingly likely to be moved at the deadline, Baldwin should get all of the playing time he can handle the rest of the way, making him the NL Rookie of the Year favorite. He’s certainly looked the part thus far in batting .284/.353/.479 with 11 homers. The league as a whole this year has 27% more hard-hit balls than strikeouts. Baldwin has 123% more (89 hard-hit balls, 40 strikeouts). His 50.9% hard-hit rate places him 31st of the 268 batters with 200 plate appearances. Will Smith and Hunter Goodwin are the only catchers hitting at least .280 with at least 10 homers.

Maybe Baldwin will wear down some, but all of the DH time will help. If the Braves pivot and trade Sean Murphy instead of Ozuna, I would drop Baldwin in my rankings some. Right now, though, I have him eighth among catchers, and I’d be willing to move on from guys like J.T. Realmuto, Alejandro Kirk, Shea Langeliers, Logan O’Hoppe and Agustin Ramírez in order to add him.

Ryan McMahon (3B Yankees): Rostered in 35% of Yahoo leagues

It’s hard to spin being traded out of Coors Field as a good thing, but getting away from the disaster of an organization that is the Colorado Rockies might pay off for McMahon, an eternally disappointing offensive player who nevertheless possesses excellent exit velocity numbers. Those numbers are actually better than usual this season.

McMahon, who was dealt to the Yankees for two pitching prospects on Friday, is currently averaging 94.0 mph off the bat, seventh best in the majors. His top-end numbers aren’t as great -- for instance, he’s just 46th when it comes to 90th percentile exit velocity -- but that’s still a lot of hard contact. He’s also hitting more flyballs and pulling the ball more than usual this year. It seems like a recipe for success, but there have been a lot of shots to the warning track thus far. He’s also probably been unlucky; Statcast has him with a .466 xSLG, compared to .403 in reality. He’s never experienced any sort of gap like that previously.

Obviously, the strikeouts really hold McMahon back. He was leading the NL with 127 this season, which is remarkable for a guy playing in the league’s preeminent strikeout-suppressing ballpark. The Yankees probably have some ideas on how to help him there, but one can’t really expect him to improve much in the near future. If McMahon’s value does come up in the short term, it will be a product of hitting in a far better lineup and sneaking balls over the right field wall in Yankee Stadium. It’s a far worse offensive ballpark, but it’s one that yields more homers to left-handers than Coors does. Unless the Yankees platoon him against southpaws -- they probably ought to, but I’m guessing he’ll be a full-timer initially -- he’s probably a better rest-of-season bet today than he was yesterday.

Kyle Bradish (SP Orioles): Rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues

Bradish pitched in a game Thursday for the first time since Tommy John surgery, throwing two innings and allowing one run for High-A Aberdeen. The stadium gun had him at 94-96 mph, said MLB.com’s Jake Rill, putting right back where he was before getting hurt. That bodes well for a right-hander who had emerged as one of the AL’s best pitchers at the time of his injury.

A subpar pitcher as a rookie in 2022, Bradish busted out about a month into the 2023 season and wound up posting a 2.42 ERA and a 150/35 K/BB in his final 25 starts that year. Last season, he was just as effective, and his strikeout rate jumped from 25 percent to 33 percent in the eight starts before he got hurt. The league had a hard-hit rate of just 29 percent against his arsenal of two fastballs, a slider and a curve.

That’s not to say Bradish is going to experience the same sort of success right away after returning next month. He might even have a setback before then, and given that the Orioles are out of contention, any sort of setback would probably get him shut down until 2026. However, if his rehab continues to progress smoothly, he could be quite an asset over the final six weeks of the season. Those who look to wait until his rehab is complete to pick him up will probably find they missed out.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- I’m not going to write about rotation-bound Joe Boyle again so soon after featuring him recently, but he ought to be picked up everywhere after the Rays’ demotion of Taj Bradley. Instead, he’s only 15 percent rostered now.

- The Astros’ Cristian Javier doesn’t need to be picked up just yet as he works his way back from Tommy John, but it was really encouraging that he averaged 93.6 mph with his fastball in his first Triple-A start. That’s back where he was in 2021 and ’22 before falling off in 2023 (92.8 mph) and 2024 (91.7). I doubt we’ll ever again see the Javier of 2022 (2.54 ERA, 33% K rate in 149 IP), but on a fine Houston team, he doesn’t need to be that good to offer some value.

Report: Yankees acquire third baseman Ryan McMahon from Rockies for prospects

DENVER — The New York Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies on Friday for prospects, according to multiple reports.

MLB.com was first to report the trade, which is pending physicals.

McMahon leaves the last-place Rockies for a Yankees team that’s in the thick of a playoff chase. The slick-fielding 30-year-old infielder is hitting .217 with 16 homers and 35 RBIs this season.

McMahon is owed about $36.2 million from the remainder of a $70 million, six-year contract through 2027.

New York is searching for some stability at third after All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was moved back to second base. He took the place of DJ LeMahieu, who was cut by the team. Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas have recently been spending time at the hot corner.

McMahon was a second-round pick in 2013 by the Rockies out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. An All-Star in 2024, McMahon is a lifetime .240 batter with 140 homers over parts of nine seasons.

He's appeared in four career playoff games - all in 2018.

McMahon is due $4,193,548 for the remaining portion of his $12 million salary this year and $16 million in each of the next two seasons.

‘Ridiculous:' Big leaguers side with Little Leaguer who was suspended for bat flip

‘Ridiculous:' Big leaguers side with Little Leaguer who was suspended for bat flip originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jazz Chisholm Jr., known for playing with flair, noticed when a Little Leaguer was suspended in baseball’s latest bat flip flap.

“I thought that was ridiculous. You’re going suspend a kid for having fun?” the New York Yankees All-Star infielder said Friday. “Crazy.”

Marco Rocco, a 12-year-old from Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament for Haddonfield’s under-12 team against Harrison Township on July 16. His father went to court and got the suspension eliminated.

“If it’s a game-changing homer, it’s fine. Even when I’m on the mound, it doesn’t irk me. It’s a human reaction and it’s good for the game, just like a pitcher doing a fist pump after a big strikeout,” said Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner. “I side-eye someone if they hit a solo shot and their team is down 5-0. That doesn’t jive with me. I don’t like it when opponents or teammates do that. I feel the same way about Little Leaguers.”

Rocco was ejected for what his family was told were actions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay,” and an ejection results in an automatic one-game suspension.

His father, Joe, is a lawyer and his dad filed suit. Judge Robert G. Malestein of New Jersey Superior Court ruled in favor of the Roccos, and Marco played for Haddonfield against Elmora Little League in a 10-0 loss Thursday in the opener of a four-team, double-elimination tournament at the Deptford Township Little League complex. Marco went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts.

“I wish nobody would do a bat flip. I’m kind of traditional,” Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said before adding, “But let him play.”

A staid sport for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, baseball has embraced emotion in recent years. José Bautista’s bat flip against Texas in a 2015 AL Division Series was featured in the video game MLB The Show 16.

“It’s a kid’s game, Whether you’re a kid or a major leaguer, we’re in a have-fun era,” Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers said. “If you earn that moment, you earn that moment.”

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.

‘Ridiculous:' Big leaguers side with Little Leaguer who was suspended for bat flip

‘Ridiculous:' Big leaguers side with Little Leaguer who was suspended for bat flip originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jazz Chisholm Jr., known for playing with flair, noticed when a Little Leaguer was suspended in baseball’s latest bat flip flap.

“I thought that was ridiculous. You’re going suspend a kid for having fun?” the New York Yankees All-Star infielder said Friday. “Crazy.”

Marco Rocco, a 12-year-old from Haddonfield, New Jersey, tossed his bat in the air on July 16 after his sixth-inning, two-run homer in the final of the sectional tournament for Haddonfield’s under-12 team against Harrison Township on July 16. His father went to court and got the suspension eliminated.

“If it’s a game-changing homer, it’s fine. Even when I’m on the mound, it doesn’t irk me. It’s a human reaction and it’s good for the game, just like a pitcher doing a fist pump after a big strikeout,” said Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner. “I side-eye someone if they hit a solo shot and their team is down 5-0. That doesn’t jive with me. I don’t like it when opponents or teammates do that. I feel the same way about Little Leaguers.”

Rocco was ejected for what his family was told were actions deemed “unsportsmanlike” and “horseplay,” and an ejection results in an automatic one-game suspension.

His father, Joe, is a lawyer and his dad filed suit. Judge Robert G. Malestein of New Jersey Superior Court ruled in favor of the Roccos, and Marco played for Haddonfield against Elmora Little League in a 10-0 loss Thursday in the opener of a four-team, double-elimination tournament at the Deptford Township Little League complex. Marco went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts.

“I wish nobody would do a bat flip. I’m kind of traditional,” Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said before adding, “But let him play.”

A staid sport for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, baseball has embraced emotion in recent years. José Bautista’s bat flip against Texas in a 2015 AL Division Series was featured in the video game MLB The Show 16.

“It’s a kid’s game, Whether you’re a kid or a major leaguer, we’re in a have-fun era,” Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers said. “If you earn that moment, you earn that moment.”

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.

Marcelo Mayer lands on IL with wrist sprain: ‘It's super frustrating'

Marcelo Mayer lands on IL with wrist sprain: ‘It's super frustrating' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox will be without rookie infielder Marcelo Mayer for the foreseeable future.

Before Friday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Red Sox placed Mayer on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist sprain. Mayer sustained the injury during Wednesday’s win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

“I took a checked swing in my first at-bat, and I kind of felt my wrist a little bit,” Mayer told reporters Friday at Fenway Park. “Didn’t think much of it. Was able to throw the ball fine. Second at-bat, the second swing of my at-bat, I just felt like my wrist locked up.”

Mayer’s return timetable is unclear. According to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, when asked whether the injury would require surgery, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the club is “gathering information” and will “get more over the weekend, during the week.”

Mayer experienced a similar injury that sidelined him for several games early in the 2022 season.

“It’s brutal,” he added. “Obviously, this is not a spot I want to be in. I want to be out there playing every day, trying to help the team win. As an athlete, all we want to do is play and go out there and just do what we do best. So it’s super frustrating. …

“It’s super annoying. There’s really no way around it. All I can do now is try to get better from it, keep working hard and try to get back on the field as soon as possible.”

The Red Sox called up speedy middle infielder David Hamilton to replace Mayer on the active roster. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela will take Mayer’s spot at second base for Friday’s game against the Dodgers.

First pitch for the Red Sox-Dodgers series opener at Fenway Park is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Giants hope Landen Roupp's elbow injury was caught in time amid rotation trouble

Giants hope Landen Roupp's elbow injury was caught in time amid rotation trouble originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — When asked in recent weeks about his workload, Landen Roupp has always had the same answer.

The 26-year-old intends to be ready to pitch for the Giants in October, and he has certainly done his part to keep them in the playoff race. 

That was put on hold Friday when Roupp went on the IL with right elbow inflammation, but an MRI showed no structural damage and both Roupp and manager Bob Melvin said the goal is to get the team’s third-best starter back when he is eligible to come off the IL. That would mean missing just two starts, although with any elbow discomfort, there is going to be some uncertainty about the true timetable. 

For now, the Giants and Roupp are optimistic that the discomfort was caught in time.

Roupp said he first felt some tightness after his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the last homestand. There was additional tightness in Atlanta on Tuesday, leading Melvin to pull Roupp after five shutout innings even though he was only at 87 pitches. 

“We think it’s pretty minor,” Melvin told reporters on Friday. “I think we caught it at the right time. We were kind of considering maybe just skipping him a turn, but with the IL being 15 days, it basically comes down to two starts. We’re hopeful that he’s going to be able to come back out after that.”

The Giants already had a gap in their rotation after optioning Hayden Birdsong to Triple-A on Tuesday, a day after he failed to record an out and walked four in the first inning. The first opening will arrive Sunday, and the plan is to go with a bullpen game in place of Birdsong, at least for this turn. Roupp is likely to be replaced by another young starter, and the Giants have several options. 

Carson Seymour is already up in the big leagues and available out of the bullpen, and he is stretched out enough to make a start.

Carson Whisenhunt will also be an option, and that would turn into a highly-anticipated event. The lefty is the organization’s best pitching prospect.

The Giants are also considering Kai-Wei Teng, who struggled in four appearances last year and was taken off the 40-man roster in the offseason. Teng has been the best of the Triple-A pitchers in recent weeks and has 82 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings this season. 

When the Birdsong and Roupp spots come back around a second time, it’s possible the Giants have an additional option or two. Rotation depth stands out as their biggest need ahead of the deadline, which is Thursday afternoon. 

The staff is confident that Birdsong will figure out his command issues and there is hope with Roupp’s elbow, but both pitchers also face uncertainty. Birdsong’s last start was jarring, and elbow discomfort is never to be taken lightly. Another spot in the rotation is held by Justin Verlander, who just picked up his first win but also has a 4.70 ERA. 

“Look, it feels like every team goes through it, and sometimes when it rains it pours a little bit,” Melvin added. “We do have some guys we like in Triple-A as far as the depth goes, so we’ll see where that goes — and we’ll see what the deadline brings.”

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Two-start pitchers: Matthew Boyd leads a strong group of options for the week of July 28

Hello and welcome to the 17th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

Someone should make two starts for the Braves next week, but as of now we’re still not sure who that person will be after Davis Daniel was optioned back to Triple-A Gwinnett following a rough outing against the Giants. It could be Dane Dunning, but he has already been used twice out of the bullpen and wouldn’t be stretched out yet. Stay tuned, we’ll track this one through the weekend. The two starts we would be looking at here are at the Royals and against the Reds in a neutral location in the MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol. Tennessee.

It's also not clear yet who is going to take the ball for the Angels on Monday. The Angels went with a bullpen game the last time this spot in the rotation came around, with Jake Eder logging six innings in a bulk role out of the bullpen. He has since been optioned back to Triple-A Salt Lake. Carson Fulmer would make some sense, but he pitched an inning out of the bullpen on Thursday so it’s unclear if they want to go in that direction. Stay tuned.

We’re also still waiting for clarity on what the Dodgers are going to do. They play six games next week, so there’s a chance that Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make two starts (@ Reds, @ Rays), but they’re currently rolling with a modified six-man rotation as they stretch out Shohei Ohtani and they’re also expecting Blake Snell to return soon, which could further complicate plans.

Tentatively, we’re expecting Jacob Misiorowski to make two starts for the Brewers next week (vs. Cubs, @ Nationals), but that’s not a guarantee. Nestor Cortes looks like he is finished with his rehab assignment and should slot into the club’s rotation next week, the issue is there is no place to put him. Do they bring him back in the bullpen or piggyback him with someone else and keep the regular five-man rotation intact? It’s possible. Or they could go with a six-man rotation at least one trip through, which would cost Misiorowski his second start of the week. He’s worth starting every week regardless, so there’s no decision to be made on this inflection point.

We’re also waiting to see who the Rays slot into their rotation to replace the recently demoted Taj Bradley. The most likely candidate is Joe Boyle, who is someone fantasy managers have been hanging onto in the hopes that he finally gets the opportunity. The problem if it happens this week, is he would draw an absolutely brutal two-start week, having to take on the Yankees in the Bronx before battling the vaunted offense of the Dodgers at Steinbrenner Field. We’ll update as we get more information.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of July 28.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, July 25, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Framber Valdez, Astros, LHP (vs. Nationals, @ Red Sox)

Through his first 20 starts, Valdez has functioned as a true ace for fantasy managers, posting an 11-4 record, 2.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 129/42 K/BB ratio over 128 innings. He should be started each and every week without hesitation, it’s just an added bonus that he gets to double his fun this week. He represents one of the top overall options on the board this week and should continue his dominance.

Max Fried, Yankees, LHP (vs. Rays, @ Marlins)

While he has come back to Earth a bit after his brilliant start to the season, Fried still owns a tremendous 11-4 record, 2.62 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 116/30 K/BB ratio over 127 1/3 innings through his first 21 starts on the season. Now he gets to battle the Rays at home before taking on a weak Marlins’ offense in Miami, which seems like a recipe for success. Fantasy managers should have him locked into lineups regardless of matchups, but this week lines up particularly well for the Yankees’ southpaw.

Jacob deGrom, Rangers, RHP (@ Angels, @ Mariners)

Jacob deGrom has managed to stay healthy through his first 20 starts on the season and in turn has delivered excellent results – going 10-2 with a minuscule 2.28 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 122/25 K/BB ratio over his 118 1/3 innings. As long as he continues pitching, he should be locked into fantasy lineups and this juicy two-start week is no exception.

Slade Cecconi, Guardians, RHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Twins)

Cecconi has quietly done a very nice job through his first 12 starts for the Guardians, compiling a 3.76 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 60/20 K/BB ratio across 69 1/3 innings. He draws a terrific matchup to start the week, getting to take on the Rockies at home before finishing the week with a home tilt against the Twins. He checks all of the boxes of everything that we’re looking for except for the elite strikeout rate, but that is covered by the extra volume that he’ll see during a two-start week. Even if rain factors in or the Guardians decide to insert a spot starter into their rotation during the week, he still winds up with a single start against the Rockies at home that you would want to use anyways. Cecconi looks like a very strong option in leagues of all sizes for the upcoming week.

Luis Castillo, Mariners, RHP (@ Athletics, vs. Rangers)

Castillo continues to march on and post quality numbers each week, posting a 3.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 107/36 K/BB ratio over 120 innings through his first 21 starts. The strikeout rate is down from where we’d expect it to be based on Castillo’s career, but he has still been very effective so it’s a minor gripe. He’s a threat to win every time that he takes the mound and he gets to battle a pair of inferior opponents within his division, which should allow him to add to that total this week. Fire him up in all formats.

Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays, RHP (@ Orioles, vs. Royals)

Bassitt has pitched very well for the Jays this season, going 11-4 with a 3.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 117/29 K/BB ratio over 120 2/3 innings through his first 22 outings. He’s pitching for one of the hottest teams in all of baseball and should be a good bet to add to that win total during his upcoming two-start week against the Orioles and Royals. He can be deployed with confidence in all leagues.

Decent Plays

Zach Eflin, Orioles, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, @ Cubs)

Eflin made his triumphant return from the injured list this past week and pitched fairly well – striking out five over five innings of two-run baseball in a no-decision against the Guardians. The matchups for the upcoming week are certainly imposing, battling a red-hot Blue Jays’ squad and then having to take on the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Eflin usually keeps his ratios in check though and he should approach double-digit strikeouts over his two-start week. He’s worth starting in 15-teamers for sure and I’d probably roll the dice in most 12-team formats as well.

Casey Mize, Tigers, RHP (vs. Diamondbacks, @ Phillies)

If you just glanced as Mize’s season-long line, you would think it’s a no-brainer to throw him out there for a two-start week regardless of his matchups. I’m not so sure that’s the right call. He has been absolutely obliterated in each of his last two starts – one before and one after the All-Star break – giving up 10 runs on 16 hits over seven innings against the Mariners and the Pirates. He now has to take on a pair of strong offenses in the Diamondbacks and Phillies, with the second start coming on the road. In 15-teamers it’s hard to get away from this as you are unlikely to have better options, but I wouldn’t be throwing him with much confidence in 12-teamers after the beatings that he just endured.          

Rich Hill, Royals, LHP (vs. Braves, @ Blue Jays)

Is it more than just a great story that Rich Hill is back in the big leagues and making starts for the Royals as the oldest player in the league at 45-years-old? It could be. The grizzled southpaw actually looked good in his first start, allowing just one earned run over five innings against the Cubs, though he recorded only one strikeout. The matchups aren’t ideal this week and he’s still unlikely to deliver more than a handful of strikeouts over a two-start week, but there’s some appeal to streaming Hill in deeper leagues. He’s unlikely to blow up your ratios and should at least have a shot at earning a victory. You could surprisingly do a whole lot worse this week.

Simeon Woods Richardson, Twins, RHP (vs. Red Sox, @ Guardians)

The 24-year-old right-hander has pitched much better recently, posting a 1.99 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and an 18/12 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 innings in his last five starts. The problem has been his efficiency, as he hasn’t worked deeper than five innings in any of those starts and has gone 4 2/3 and three innings his last two times out. He should provide decent ratios and a handful of strikeouts, though his chances of earning a victory are diminished with him not working deeply into games. If you’re good with that, then he’s worth a look in all leagues.

Logan Evans, Mariners, RHP (@ Athletics, vs. Rangers)

Despite an elevated WHIP, Evans has done a nice job through his first 11 starts for the Mariners, compiling a 3.64 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 43/21 K/BB ratio across 59 1/3 innings. He’s in a good position to add to his win total this week with matchups against the Athletics and Rangers on tap, which makes him a worthwhile streaming option in shallower leagues in which he may still be hanging around on the waiver wire.

Patrick Corbin, Rangers, LHP (@ Angels, @ Mariners)

At this stage of his career Corbin is who he is. Someone who can provide decent ratios, give you a shot at a victory and will pick up a couple of strikeouts every time he takes the mound. That makes him a viable option in most two-start weeks. This time he’ll battle the Angels and Mariners – both on the road – where he once again makes for a decent streaming play. There’s not much there in terms of ceiling, but you could do a whole lot worse than streaming Corbin for a pair of starts this week.

At Your Own Risk

JP Sears, Athletics, LHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Diamondbacks)

Sears has struggled through his first 21 starts for the Athletics this season, posting an underwhelming 4.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 91/26 K/BB ratio over 106 2/3 innings. Having to pitch twice at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento doesn’t work in his favor, nor does the fact that he’ll be taking on a couple of strong opposing offenses. The strikeouts should be there given the added volume of a two-start week, but don’t count on Sears for strong ratios and his chances of earning a victory aren’t particularly high.

Richard Fitts, Red Sox, RHP (@ Twins, vs. Astros)

Fitts has shown a bit of rust since returning from the injured list, registering a 5.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 17/3 K/BB ratio over 16 innings of work while making it through five innings just once over those four starts. The matchups are tough as well, fueling the ratio risk for the upcoming week. If all you’re looking for is strikeouts, he should be able to come through for you there – and really his WHIP has been in an acceptable range for much of the season. There’s just a chance that he blows up your ERA in one of these outings. Depending on your level of risk tolerance, he could be worth a look as a streaming option in deeper leagues.

Davis Martin, White Sox, RHP (vs. Phillies, @ Angels)

Depending on what you’re looking for, it’s possible that Martin could be a viable streaming option in deeper formats. He’s not a big strikeout guy, but from the volume of two starts he could claw his way to five or six over the course of the week. He’s also very unlikely to win a game while pitching for the White Sox, but even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. The start against the Phillies looks like a tough matchup, but Martin has done a nice job controlling his ratios this season. There isn’t much upside here, but if you’re looking strictly for volume that’s not going to destroy your ratios, he could be in play.

Drew Rasmussen, Rays, RHP (@ Yankees, vs. Dodgers)

This one really depends on what it is that you’re looking for. Rasmusen has been outstanding this season, there’s no denying that. The issue is that the Rays are now limiting his innings and he’s only likely to go three or four innings in each of these starts. If the matchups were better, I’d probably recommend using him, as eight innings of quality ratios and strikeouts would be worth it in most cases, even if he doesn’t earn a win. The problem is that the matchups couldn’t be worse. I don’t think the risk justifies what little upside there is here at the moment. I would sit him if possible in all leagues.

National League

Strong Plays

Matthew Boyd, Cubs, LHP (@ Brewers, vs. Orioles)

Matthew Boyd has been able to avoid the injured list and is putting together a magical campaign in his age-34 season for the Cubs. He holds an 11-3 record, 2.20 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 108/24 K/BB ratio across 118 2/3 innings of work over his first 20 starts. He starts the upcoming week with a tough matchup against the Brewers in a critical divisional battle before finishing up with the Orioles at home. He should continue to be treated like a true ace for fantasy purposes, meaning we’re starting him every week without question regardless of the matchups.

Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies, LHP (@ White Sox, vs. Tigers)

While he was snubbed from making his second straight National League All-Star team, Sánchez has certainly been worthy – going 9-2 with a 2.40 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 134/32 K/BB ratio over 124 innings. He really gets to feast this week, as he’ll battle a hapless White Sox’ offense in Chicago before taking on a struggling Tigers’ offense that has been particularly brutal against left-handed pitching over the last couple of weeks. He should be locked into 100 percent of lineups and represents one of the top overall plays of the week.

Edward Cabrera, Marlins, RHP (@ Cardinals, vs. Yankees)

The 27-year-old right-hander has impressed through his first 17 starts with the Marlins this season, posting a 3.48 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 92/30 K/BB ratio over 88 innings. He has struck out five or more batters in each of his last 11 starts and has allowed more than two earned runs just twice during that impressive stretch. The matchup against the Yankees is tough, but with the way that Cabrera is throwing the ball at the moment, he should be started in all leagues for this upcoming two-start week.

Landen Roupp, Giants, RHP (vs. Pirates, @ Mets)

Aside from one brutal start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles in mid-June, Roupp has done nothing but dominate since the start of May – allowing two earned runs or fewer 12 times in his last 14 starts. The walks are a problem, which leads to an elevated WHIP (1.43), but he has been a major asset for fantasy purposes aside from that. He gets a strong matchup against the Pirates to start the week where he’ll be a favorite to earn a victory before finishing things up against the Mets in New York. He can be deployed with confidence in leagues of all sizes.

Decent Plays

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (@ Tigers, @ Athletics)

It’s been a disappointing season overall for the 32-year-old southpaw, compiling a 5.50 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and a 93/32 K/BB ratio over 86 2/3 innings in his 17 starts. Aside from one disaster against the Royals though, he has actually been decent since the calendar flipped to June – posting a 3.86 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and a 41/14 K/BB ratio over 42 innings. He also gets the added benefit of facing the Tigers when they’re slumping and can’t score runs to save their lives. The strikeouts should certainly be there over two starts on the week and his chances of earning a victory are elevated this week, making him a decent streaming option in shallow formats where he may still be available.

Frankie Montas, Mets, RHP (@ Padres, vs. Giants)

Despite his horrific struggles while rehabbing in the minor leagues, Frankie Montas has done a decent job since joining the Mets’ rotation. He has compiled a 4.62 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 23/6 K/BB ratio over 25 1/3 innings in his first five starts. He has allowed just three runs over 10 2/3 innings over his last two starts while racking up 11 strikeouts, showing that he’s getting better as he continues to shake off the rust. The matchups are middle of the road, but nothing to shy away from, so I’d be comfortable starting Montas in leagues of all sizes for this upcoming two-start week.

Mitch Keller, Pirates, RHP (@ Giants, @ Rockies)

Assuming that he remains with the Pirates through the trade deadline, Mitch Keller lines up for a very strong two-start week next week. He’ll take on the Giants in an extreme pitcher’s park in San Francisco before traveling to Coors Field to battle a Rockies’ team that has struggled regardless of where they are playing. He’s a strong bet to deliver quality ratios whenever he takes the mound, the downside with Keller has been his limited strikeouts and his poor win equity pitching for the Pirates. Both of those issues are muted this week with him making two starts – and one of them coming against the Rockies. I’d feel good throwing him out there in leagues of all sizes.

Dylan Cease, Padres, RHP (vs. Mets, vs. Cardinals)

Cease has been a bit of an enigma this season. He’s got a poor ERA (4.59) which comes from a few brutal outings in which he gets knocked around, but then he’ll go out and dominate over his next couple of starts without rhyme or reason. We know what he’s never going to be a major asset in WHIP, but regardless of his performance he has been a monster in the strikeout department. He should easily eclipse double digit strikeouts during his upcoming two-start week and pitching for the Padres he has a good shot at earning a victory every time he takes the mound. Fantasy managers surely understand what they’re getting from Cease by now and as long as you can stand the potential hit in ERA, he should be started in all leagues.

At Your Own Risk

Chase Burns, Reds, RHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Braves)

The 22-year-old rookie right-hander has been knocked around in his first five starts at the big league level – posting a 6.65 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 21 2/3 innings. The one thing that he has been able to do though, is pile up strikeouts with 35 through his first five starts. It’s not going to get any easier for him this week, as he’ll have to take on the Dodgers in the bandbox known as Great American Ballpark before taking on the Braves in the MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol, Tennessee. If all you care about his strikeouts and can handle the ratio risk, then by all means take a shot on Burns this week. Otherwise, you may want to steer clear.

Bradley Blalock, Rockies, RHP (@ Guardians, vs. Pirates)

It’s easy to say that we should avoid all Rockies’ starting pitchers for their two-start weeks and in practice it makes a lot of sense. I’d love to be able to find a reason to recommend an intriguing young right-hander with matchups on tap against the Guardians on the road and the light-hitting Pirates at Coors Field, but Blalock has struggled to a miserable 8.67 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over 27 innings so far this season while recording a pitiful total of only nine strikeouts. He should be avoided in all leagues.

Andre Pallante, Cardinals, RHP (vs. Marlins, @ Padres)

Pallante is the type of arm that always seems to be available if you’re willing to roll the dice for his two-start weeks. He has been very unimpressive this season, with a 4.91 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and just 72 strikeouts over 110 innings on the year. He’s probably not going to be an asset in ratios this week. What you’re gambling on, is whether or not you think he can beat the Marlins. If he does, he’ll probably deliver favorable results for the week. If not, he’ll end up hurting your squad. Once again, it all depends on your level of risk tolerance.

Brad Lord, Nationals, RHP (@ Astros, vs. Brewers)

Lord has done a decent job bouncing back and forth between the Nationals’ bullpen and their starting rotation, but that doesn’t mean we should be firing him for a difficult two-start week against the Astros and Brewers. He’s still in the process of getting stretched back out and only threw 50 pitches over four innings his last time out. The upside doesn’t justify the risk here.

Some things to be excited about as Yankees take on Phillies

Some things to be excited about as Yankees take on Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK – We have all become accustomed to the monotone approach Phillies manager Rob Thomson takes when talking about his team. Try to figure out whether his team won a great game or lost an excruciating one, his demeanor certainly won’t be a hint as to which it was. 

When the subject of pitcher Aaron Nola and his current rehabilitation comes up, however, there is a bit – just a bit – of excitement that seems to invade the inflection of his voice. Friday before the Phillies took on the New York Yankees, Nola pitched a bullpen session that, by all accounts, have him right where the team wants him to be as he makes his way back from a right ankle sprain and a stress fracture in his right rib cage that has had him sidelined since May 14.

“Great,” Thomson said of Nola’s session at Yankee Stadium. “Three ups, 56 pitches and his command was excellent. To me it looks like he’s ready for an assignment.”

Though the rotation seems a bit crowded with the possibility of Mick Abel coming back up and after Andrew Painter threw a very good game Thursday at Lehigh Valley where he allowed just one hit and two earned runs in six innings. But Thomson is quick to point out that Nola could be a huge benefit going down the stretch.

“When he’s on he’s one of the best pitchers in the game. That’s what you want,” Thomson said.

“No pain in the ankle or rib,” Nola said. “Everything felt normal and I think I’m ready to go out and pitch at Lehigh in game situation.

I’m trying to sharpen the delivery still and keep that sharp and keep my pitches sharp, focus on the command on all of them. First inning felt so-so today and once I started throwing more and got stretched, I felt a lot better. 

“I want to get back for sure,” he said. “It’s tough not pitching. It’s been a little while. It’s what I’m used to doing and going out there every five days and taking the ball for this team. Not being able to do it for this long has been tough. But I’ve learned some things during this rehab process . I’ve tried to educate myself as much as I can on the injuries I’ve had. I’m trying to keep my body strong from here on out. I’m excited to go to Lehigh and pitch a couple games and finally get in game situations.”

Thomson wasn’t sure if Nola will throw another bullpen before pitching for Lehigh. No matter, the plan is pretty laid out. “I’d like to see him get to at least 90 pitches,” Thomson said. “So the first time out will probably be the same as it was today, 55 to 60 pitches. And then we’ll graduate him 15 pitches per outing to get him to 90. Whatever that math is.”

Daddy done good

With barely any sleep, an addition to the family (newborn son) and long batting slump hanging on his shoulders, second baseman Bryson Stott had a lot going on Wednesday when the team took on the Boston Red Sox.

He responded, in a big way, by going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. He also scored a pair. While daddy power was a subject with Stott, there are also some more technical things going on with his swing that may be turning his slump around.

“We had him so early and all the tests and everything we’re done, like, by 8, 8:30. We were kind of just sitting around,” said Stott of the birth of his second child. “My daughter was home with my mom and sister. She said ‘we’re just going to be sitting here so maybe you should go. I’ll be fine.’ I said ‘are you sure?’ It was all good. Had the baby around 3:40ish, probably was up till around five or so and got up around eight. I took some naps throughout the day. Felt good, good enough to go. A lot of new adrenaline with a new baby. The tiredness didn’t really hit me till the off day. 

“Looking back at 2023 and the beginning of 2024, just kind of where my hands were. Trying to get back to, kind of that feeling. I think just the majority of it is timing. I was super early or super late and when you’re too early you fly out to left and when you’re too late you might ground out to short or line out. Just trying to find that balance of just being on time. That fixes a lot of things throughout your swing. I felt on time the last couple days.”

Stott had been just six for his last 45 heading into Wednesday. Maybe that little, loud thing in his house is just as important as where and how his hands are.

“The last couple of days his swings have looked a lot better,” said Thomson. “He’s sort of simplified the move. He knows where that barrel’s at. It’s a lot better. He had a lot of waggle in his hands before he made his initial move to get loaded and really was losing his barrel, didn’t know where it was. Now he’s just kind of sitting it on his shoulder and taking it out and it gets going and it’s really simplified his swing.”

Mets bolster bullpen with deal for Orioles lefty Gregory Soto ahead of trade deadline

FLUSHING, N.Y. — The New York Mets have acquired help for their bullpen, trading for left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles for a pair of minor league pitchers.

The Mets announced the trade Friday. They are sending right-handed pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster for the two-time All-Star.

Soto, 30, has a 3.96 ERA with 18 walks and 44 strikeouts in 45 appearances for the Orioles this season. The lefty has held left-handed batters to a .138 batting average allowing just eight walks and 22 strikeouts. He’s been even stingier in 21 games since June 4 with left-handed batters 0-for-23.

An All-Star in 2021 and 2022 with Detroit, Soto is 14-31 with a 4.24 ERA, 187 walks and 394 strikeouts in parts of seven major league seasons. He signed with Detroit in 2012 and is a native of the Dominican Republic. Baltimore acquired him last July from Philadelphia.

The trade deadline is Thursday.

Yankees acquiring 3B Ryan McMahon in trade with Rockies

The Yankees are making an upgrade at third base, acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies.

New York is sending two pitching prospects in exchange for the 2024 All-Star, LHP Griffin Herring and RHP Josh Grosz. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand was the first to report the trade.

The Rockies are currently a league-worst 26-76 and on pace for the worst record in major league history.

McMahon is in the fourth year of a six-year, $70 million contract. He's owed $16 million each of the next two seasons before becoming a free agent ahead of the 2028 season.

The 30-year-old is slashing .217/.314/.403 this season with 16 home runs, 15 doubles, and 35 RBI over 100 games. He's struck out a league-leading 127 times, but is still on pace for his fifth straight 20-plus home run season, and the sixth of his career.

It's a drop-off from his All-Star 2024 season in which he hit .242 with 20 homers, 28 doubles, and 65 RBI. McMahon had a career-best 4.0 WAR in 2021 with 23 home runs, 32 doubles, and 86 RBI in 151 games.

"Really excited," manager Aaron Boone said pregame. "Been an All-Star third baseman, really good defender. Has had some ups and downs offensively this year, I know over the last month he's been swinging the bat well. He's a presence and can really defend over there at third, and has for a number of years. We're excited to get him."

He later added: "I know there's real offensive potential there... The handful of times that we've played against them that I watch him, you're like, 'That's what it should look like over there.' He moves really well and has that prototypical good third base thing."

McMahon was drafted by Colorado in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, CA and made his debut at age 22 in 2017. Over nine seasons and 1,010 games with the Rockies, McMahon owns a .240 batting average and .743 OPS with 140 homers and 452 RBI.

Defensively, McMahon has logged 696 games at third base, owning a .968 fielding percentage. He's also played 244 games at second base, 70 at first base, seven as a DH, and two at SS. He's played 100 games at third this season (.978 fielding percentage) and manned the hot corner for 152 games in 2024, leading the league in both assists (323) and errors (15).

The Yankees will bank on his glove at third base for at least the rest of the season, allowing them to slide Jazz Chisholm Jr. back over to second base full-time. This move also likely takes New York out of the running in the Eugenio Suarez sweepstakes. Either way, Boone believes the addition of McMahon will help the team defensively.

"I expect, and it needs to be one of our strengths, now bringing in a McMahon and with Anthony [Volpe], we need them to play the way they're capable of playing and how we expect them to play. If they do, that becomes a strength. We need that to happen," Boone said.

"I think you go around the diamond with us, I think we have a number of really good defenders, especially on most nights... Obviously, we're coming off a series where we did not play well in that regard, our last game was not good at all, probably cost us a game... There's no reason to think we can't be a really good defensive club moving forward, which I think we have been much of the year with some series mixed in where we've made mistakes."

Mets acquire LHP Gregory Soto in deal with Orioles

The Mets have made their first bullpen addition ahead of the trade deadline.

New York has acquired LHP Gregory Soto in a trade with the Orioles, as first reported by SNY's Andy Martino.

"This is a guy who is used to pitching in this league in high leverage, not to mention he's a lefty," said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza before Friday's game at the San Francisco Giants. "Upper-90s sinker. The slider. The biggest thing is his ability to come in games when there's high leverage and pressure there. Obviously a piece that will help us, and I'm excited about it."

Right-handed pitching prospects Cameron Foster and Wellington Arecena are heading to Baltimore as part of the deal, which is pending medicals.

Arecena, the 19th-ranked prospect in the Mets' system according to MLB Pipeline, is a 20-year-old right-hander who has pitched to a 2.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP while striking out an incredible 84 batters across 17 appearances in High-A this season.

Foster is a bit older at 26, but he's also enjoying a strong season and recently made the jump to Triple-A. He's struggling a bit at the new level, but has a 2.97 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 21 outings on the year.

This marks the third time in Soto's career that he's been traded.

He first broke into the league with the Tigers, but after four seasons he was shipped off to the Phillies, whom he spent a year and a half with before they traded him to Baltimore ahead of the 2023 deadline.

The 30-year-old has a 3.94 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 44 strikeouts, and 17 holds over 45 appearances.

He's been particularly effective against opposing southpaws, holding them to .138 average and .547 OPS.

Now in the Big Apple, he'll team up with Brooks Raley to give the Mets two steady left-handed options.

"Definitely helps," Mendoza said. "Grateful and thankful that the guys that have been here, they continuously help us. Whether it's righties, lefties, there's been a lot of new faces walking through those doors. We got Raley back and we see the impact right away.

"Another lefty allows me to deploy one of them earlier in the game and the other in the later innings. It's easier when they are both available to match up against some of the lineups we are going to be facing."

Soto is a free agent at the end of this season.