Reliever to Watch: Gregory Soto

Dave Dombrowski took a big swing this off-season, sending Matt Vierling, Nick Maton, and Donny Sands for Kody Clemens and polarizing reliever Gregory Soto.

Soto was a big get for the Phillies bullpen but he will come with questions. To some, they’re adding a two-time all-star closer to a bullpen that features game-changers like José Alvarado and Seranthony Domínguez in the back end.

To others, he’s a massive risk with only 8.95 strikeouts per nine in 2022 and a walk rate of over 12%. It’s easy to argue that Soto was fortunate with a HR/FB rate of 3.4% due to mostly pitching in a very pitcher-friendly park in Detroit.

What the Phillies need to do for Soto is help work on his command but not in…