Pirates Sign Gregory Soto to Strengthen Bullpen

The Pittsburgh Pirates wasted no time fixing a gaping bullpen hole, signing two-time All-Star closer Gregory Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million contract. The hard-throwing lefty, who just finished a 70-appearance season split between Baltimore and the Mets, jumps straight into a crucial late-inning role for a Pittsburgh club desperate for experienced left-handed relief.

Gregory Soto Brings Proven Late-Inning Pedigree to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s trying to move from rebuilding to contending, and picking up a reliever with Soto’s résumé isn’t just about depth. It shows the Pirates want to steady a bullpen that fell apart and lost key pieces at the deadline.

A Five-Team Journey Since His MLB Debut

Soto’s career? Volatile, but full of promise. He broke in with Detroit in 2019 and quickly became a high-octane late-inning weapon. By 2021, he’d locked down the closer’s job, racking up saves and grabbing two All-Star nods in the process.

Here’s the quick tour:

Now it’s 2025, and the Pirates are Soto’s fifth team in five years. They’re betting his upside and experience outweigh the inconsistency that’s followed him lately.

Why the Pirates Needed Gregory Soto

This move isn’t random—it directly addresses how the Pirates’ bullpen collapsed and what the current roster is missing.

A Bullpen That Needed Reinforcements

Pittsburgh’s relief corps landed in the league’s bottom half last season, thanks to underperformance, injuries, and deadline trades. They dealt away David Bednar and Caleb Ferguson, gutting their late-inning security.

Righty Dennis Santana is expected to hang onto the closer’s job in 2026, but the depth behind him was shaky, especially from the left side. Before Soto, Pittsburgh didn’t have a proven lefty who could handle tough, high-leverage spots.

Why Soto Fits the Pirates’ Bullpen Profile

Soto checks a lot of boxes the front office clearly wants:

Pittsburgh also gets Soto without clearing a 40-man spot, which makes the roster math easier and keeps them flexible for more moves.

Soto’s Evolving Pitching Profile

As Soto’s bounced around, his arsenal and command have shifted. The Pirates are betting that his improved control matters more than recent fastball concerns.

Improved Control, Questions About Velocity

Wildness dogged Soto early on. Walks kept his pitch count high and made it tough to finish innings. Last season, though, he dropped his walk rate to a career-best 8.6%—a real step forward for a guy whose stuff can miss bats when he’s right.

But there’s a catch. Soto ran into sinker velocity and effectiveness issues, especially late in the year. The pitch that once overwhelmed hitters lost its edge, and he struggled in September with the Mets. The Pirates’ coaches will probably focus hard on getting that sinker back in shape.

How This Signing Fits the Pirates’ Offseason Plan

The Soto signing is just one piece of Pittsburgh’s offseason puzzle, but it’s a big one. With an estimated $40 million in payroll space still open, the club has room to keep making moves if they want.

More Moves Likely on the Horizon

Even after landing Soto, the Pirates aren’t done shopping in free agency. The front office keeps chasing more free agent hitters, making it pretty obvious they’re hungry to boost both the lineup and the bullpen as they try to move from hopefuls to real contenders.

Right now, Soto brings Pittsburgh something they’ve missed—a battle-tested, left-handed arm with closing chops and sharper command these days. If the Pirates can help him rediscover that sinker, this one-year gamble could turn out to be one of the offseason’s sneakier bullpen moves.

 
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