The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher GREGORY SOTO from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher SETH JOHNSON and minor league right-handed pitcher MOISÉS CHACE.
Soto, 29, is 2-4 with a 4.08 ERA (16 ER/35.1 IP) with 36 hits (2 HR), 19 total runs allowed, six hit-by-pitches, 20 walks (2 IBB), and 44 strikeouts in 43 games, all in relief, for the Phillies. His 97.7 mph average fastball velocity ranks in the top four percent of MLB, per Statcast. Soto has made at least 60 appearances each season since the start of 2021 and made the National League All-Star team in 2021 and 2022. He was acquired by Philadelphia, along with infielder Kody Clemens, from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for outfielder Matt Vierling, infielder Nick Maton, and catcher Donny Sands on January 7, 2023. Soto, a native of Haina, Dominican Republic, originally joined the Tigers after signing as an international free agent in December 2012.
Johnson, 25, went 0-6 with a 2.63 ERA (19 ER/65.0 IP) with 51 hits (5 HR), 24 total runs, 35 walks, and 61 strikeouts in 18 games, all starts, with Double-A Bowie this season. At the time of the move, he was ranked as the No. 8 Orioles prospect and No. 3 O’s pitching prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was acquired by the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays as part of a three-team, five-player trade with the Houston Astros that included infielder/outfielder Trey Mancini on August 1, 2022. Johnson was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the Competitive Balance A Round (40th overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Campbell University (NC).
Chace, 21, held a 2-2 record with a 3.46 ERA (20 ER/52.0 IP) with 37 hits (5 HR), 22 total runs, six hit-by-pitches, 30 walks, and 76 strikeouts in 17 games (9 GS) with High-A Aberdeen this season. A native of La Guaira, Venezuela, Chace was signed by the Orioles on July 2, 2019, as a minor league free agent.
Soto has not yet reported.