The Phillies traded reliever Gregory Soto to the Orioles, reviews insider Jim Salisbury. Pitching prospect Seth Johnson goes to Philadelphia, reviews Kiley McDaniel of ESPN. Pitching prospect Moises Chace can be going to the Phils, reviews Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Soto, a 29-year-old lefty, has a 26.7 Ok%, 12.1 BB% and 50% ground-ball price in 35 1/3 innings for the Phillies this 12 months. Supervisor Rob Thomson has moved Soto down the bullpen depth chart in current months, properly earlier than the membership added Carlos Estevez and Tanner Banks in current trades. Nonetheless, Soto averages 98.4 mph on his fastball and is beneath staff management subsequent 12 months as an arbitration-eligible participant. He’s incomes an honest wage of $5M on the season. Soto, who got here up with the Tigers, joined the Phillies in a January 2023 commerce.
With the Phillies’ CBT payroll sitting proper across the second luxury-tax threshold of $257M, maybe he was a luxurious in a bullpen with Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, Jose Alvarado and Estevez.
Simply 4 days in the past, the Phillies shipped reliever Seranthony Dominguez to the Orioles for outfielder Austin Hays. It’s been an attention-grabbing pair of swaps between first-place golf equipment, and with the Orioles turning to the Phillies to complement their bullpen behind Craig Kimbrel and Yennier Cano. The Orioles, who additionally added starters Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers in deadline offers, don’t share the Phillies’ payroll issues.
Johnson, a 25-year-old righty, sports activities a 2.63 ERA, 22.6 Ok%, 13.0 BB% and 40.4% ground-ball price in 18 Double-A begins. Drafted fortieth general by the Rays in 2019, Johnson went to the Orioles on the commerce deadline two years in the past in a three-team deal involving Trey Mancini and Jose Siri. MLB.com gave him a forty five grade, noting, “He maintains the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter, although his age and placement on the 40-man roster might push Johnson right into a bullpen position within the brief time period.” Earlier than the season, Baseball America assigned Johnson a 50 grade and had an identical outlook.
Chace, 21, has principally had 3-4 inning outings in Excessive-A this 12 months. He’s missed a wholesome quantity of bats with a 34.2 Ok% however allowed loads of walks with a 13.5 BB%. Chace’s pitching coach, Jordie Henry, stated to Baseball America’s Jon Meoli, “Even when he does have these [command] hiccups, figuring out that we already know his ceiling at this degree is basically, actually thrilling.”
