The trade market for relief pitchers ahead of the MLB trade deadline may have jumpedstart on Friday when the Baltimore Orioles sent left-handed relief pitcher Gregory Soto to the New York Mets for two pitching prospects. With the Orioles already missing the opportunity to trade All-Star closer Felix Bautista, given his injury, they wasted no time in moving Soto.
With the trade, the Chicago Cubs may have gotten their first glimpse at the market for relief pitchers. In adding Soto, a free agent after the season, the Mets gave up their No. 19 prospect in right-handed pitcher Wellington Aracena and a low-level lottery ticket in right-handed pitching prospect Cameron Foster.