Blue Jays 2025 free agent target: Gregory Soto

Most of these top weapons will undoubtedly command lucrative free agent commitments, and depending on the Blue Jays’ aggressiveness in addressing their other needs, that could make them more likely to shift their focus to the less expensive but still talented relief group. Maybe that could lead management to someone like left-hander Gregory Soto.

After starting his career in Detroit and spending four seasons with the Tigers from 2019 to 2022, Soto spent the past three seasons with as many teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies (2023-24), Baltimore Orioles (2024-25) and New York Mets (acquired midseason in ’25).

Soto was part of the Mets’ bullpen overhaul at last season’s trade deadline that also included Helsley and Tyler Rogers, with the team sending a pair of pitching prospects to the O’s in exchange for the impending free agent. It is the first time in his career that he has hit the open market.

Season statistics 2025

The 30-year-old Soto was a workhorse last season, making 70 career relief appearances between Baltimore and New York over 60.1 innings. He had a combined ERA of 4.18, but that was surpassed by his career-best 3.42 FIP and an 8.6 percent walk rate.

In addition to minimizing his previous command woes, the veteran southpaw excelled at generating swing and miss and missing barrels, as evidenced by his impressive strikeout (25.1 percent), whiff (29.9 percent), chase (31.5 percent) and barrel rates (four percent) – all of which ranked in the top third percentile of the majors in ’25.

It’s always been about the breaking ball, both versions of it (slider, sweeper), in these matchups for Soto over the past few seasons. This year, lefties hit just .121 against his slider in 35 at-bats and swung and missed half the time – the second-highest whiff rate on that pitch among a qualified left-hander (min. 30 at-bats, starter or reliever).

Soto also remained one of the hardest-throwing left-handed pitchers in baseball this past season, with his four-seamer — the third weapon in his five-pitch arsenal, behind his high-90s sinker and slider — averaging 93 mph and ranking fourth in the majors, behind Tarik Skubal (97.6), Aroldis Chapman (98.4) and Mason Montgomery (98.7).

Walks have long been Soto’s Achilles heel, especially against right-handed hitters (career rate of 12.3 percent). But when he has dialed in his command and faced a group of lefties, he has proven to be one of the strongest left-handed relievers in the sport.

Is Soto a good fit for the Blue Jays?

In theory, yes. Soto would make sense as a relatively cheap bullpen addition, providing this team with extra swing and miss from the left side after leading all MLB teams by a touch of speed (34.9 percent) against left-handed relievers in ’25. He would also relieve pressure on Little and Mason Fluharty in crucial left-to-left situations in the late game.

But the Blue Jays appear to be chasing bigger fish right now. So whether or not they should sign Soto is a follow-up question that likely can’t be answered until the offseason. If he’s still available in January or February, when most (if not all) relievers have already signed and they’re still looking for an impact arm, make it happen.

But in the meantime, Soto is just one of them several ideal bullpen targets for Toronto.