The 2025 New York Mets season was a turbulent ride, particularly when it came to the bullpen. As the team fought for a playoff spot, the front office was in a near-constant scramble to find reliable arms, and one specific demographic proved especially elusive: left-handed relievers. The search for a dependable southpaw specialist became a recurring theme, with several options failing to stick or provide the high-leverage stability the team desperately needed to complement its core bullpen pieces.
That search led President of Baseball Operations David Stearns to the trade market, and on July 25, the Mets acquired two-time All-Star Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles.