United States.- The New York Mets and the Yankees made significant moves this Friday with a view to strengthening their rosters before the MLB Trade Deadline.
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The Mets made official the acquisition of Dominican left-handed reliever
Gregory Soto, coming from the Baltimore Orioles, in a deal that sent right-handed pitchers
Wellington Aracena —Mets’ number 19 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline— and
Cameron Foster to the Baltimore organization.
Soto, 30 years old, has pitched in 45 games this season with the Orioles, recording an ERA of 3.96, with 44 strikeouts and 18 walks in 36.1 innings. A two-time All-Star during his time with the Detroit Tigers, the lefty adds depth and experience to the Mets’ bullpen, which is seeking stability in the final innings.
For their part, the Yankees acquired third baseman
Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for young pitchers
Griffin Herring (left-handed) and
Josh Grosz (right-handed).
McMahon, 29, has played 100 games this season, all at third base, leading MLB in games at third base. Although his .717 OPS may seem modest, his defense places him in the 91st percentile with 4 Outs Above Average, making him a key reinforcement for a position that had been a weak point in the New York lineup.
The left-handed hitter has hit 16 home runs so far this year and has at least 20 home runs in every full season since 2019. In addition, his contract is secured until 2027 for a manageable amount of 16 million dollars per season.
This move responds to the internal restructuring of the Yankees, who recently moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base and designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment. There had been speculation about a possible trade for Eugenio Suárez (D-backs), but differences between the parties led New York to redirect its interest towards McMahon.
Both teams could remain protagonists in the trade market. In the case of the Yankees, there is reported interest in pitchers like “Dylan Cease (Padres)” and “Mitch Keller (Pirates)” to reinforce a rotation affected by injuries.
With the Trade Deadline approaching, these moves could mark only the beginning of a series of strategic decisions heading into the final stretch of the season.
