Latest news with #BrooksRaley
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Mets Acquired Gregory Soto Specifically To Be Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper Slayer in Playoffs
The New York Mets badly needed another competent lefty in the bullpen for the second half. However, a new report suggests that they specifically targeted Gregory Soto because of his potential to shut down some monster bats in the playoffs. On Friday, the Mets made their first big splash before next week's MLB trade deadline. Acquiring Orioles reliever Soto for a pair of minor leaguers. Not only does Soto give the club a very nice lefty combo with Brooks Raley, but the 30-year-old has succeeded under the pressure of finishing games. Both his All-Star appearances (2021 and 2022) came as the Tigers' closer. It was a trade that received praise from MLB analysts. However, on Saturday, New York Post MLB insider Joel Sherman detailed an even more important reason why he was at the top reliever wish list. The team will face some outstanding left-handed hitters in the second half and the playoffs. And the combo of Raley and Soto could be those sluggers' kryptonite. Gregory Soto stats: 3.96 ERA, 1.294 WHIP, 44 strikeouts, 18 walks 'They have to get through Philadelphia to win the division. And to do that, you've got to get through Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber,' Sherman began by saying in a new YouTube post. 'If you don't have good lefties against them, it's problematic. 'The Dodgers last year, the team that played them the best in the playoffs was the Padres. Who did the Padres get at the trade deadline? Among others, they got Tanner Scott, who was kind of a Shohei Ohtani slayer. 1-9 for his career during the regular season, then in the postseason, he's 0-4 with four strikeouts. 'Ohtani is a combined 1-11 against Raley and Soto. 1-6 against Raley, 0-5 against Soto. Harper hasn't even faced Soto. But Schwarber's 0-2 against him and 0-6 with three strikeouts versus Raley. [Freddie] Freeman is a combined 2-12 versus Raley and Soto. Small samples, but consider who the Mets have to go through to get to [get to the World Series].' Gregory Soto contract: One year, $1.8 million That is huge for the Mets to be able to throw two impactful lefties at the Dodgers and Phillies' top hitters in key late-inning moments. However, Sherman also noted that while left-handed hitters have a .138 average against Soto this season, his high walk rate can make his outings an adventure. 'I had an executive the other day who had him on his team say to me, 'He's the most likely guy to throw a shutout inning by hitting one, walking two, and striking out three.' It's a bit of a tightrope walk with him. But the stuff is real,' Sherman said. Related Headlines Positive rumor emerges on Aaron Judge's Yankees return timeline, news on Spencer Jones as his replacement Report: New York Mets Inquired on Trade for Star Pitcher, Odds of Deal NASCAR Xfinity Results: Pennzoil 250 winner, Xfinity Stage Results today Report: Philadelphia Phillies Linked to Trade for Top All-Star Infielder
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Mets address bullpen need by acquiring lefty Gregory Soto from Orioles
The New York Mets are improving a major area of need with their first deal of the trade deadline season. The Mets are acquiring left-handed reliever Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for prospects Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster, league sources confirmed. SNY first reported the move. Advertisement Improving the bullpen is the highest priority for the Mets. By acquiring another established left-handed reliever on Friday, New York accomplished an important goal early. They needed another late-inning option to pair with southpaw Brooks Raley, who returned from Tommy John surgery just last week. After adding Soto, the Mets still eye multiple additions to their bullpen, league sources said. Soto, a free agent at the end of the season, has a 3.96 ERA in 36 1/3 innings with 44 strikeouts and 18 walks. Armed with a high-90s fastball, Soto was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 while pitching for the Detroit Tigers.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets open second half with muted effort as major need continues to be underscored
NEW YORK — As Sean Manaea returns from an oblique injury and the discovery of loose bodies in his elbow, the Mets are being ultra-careful with one of their leading arms. That line of thinking meant that the left-hander was going to be used prudently in his return to Citi Field on Friday night. While Manaea held down the Reds, limiting the road side to one earned run over four innings with six strikeouts, his night was done after 69 pitches. And the Reds teed off from there. The Mets bullpen was gashed for seven runs, including three home runs, as they stumbled into the second half with a 8-4 loss in front of a sold-out crowd of 42,390 fans in Flushing. "Look, if (Sean Manaea) goes out there and throws five innings, it's a lot easier, but he's a big part of our team," Carlos Mendoza said. "You take the 70, 75 from Sean and then you try to piece it together. I have no issues with that. That's where we're at. "Is it a challenge? Maybe. But it is what it is." The disheartening performance from the Mets' relievers underscored a need for reinforcements with less than two weeks to go until the trade deadline, even with left-handed veteran Brooks Raley making his return on Friday. The Mets offense struck first for two runs but then went cold over the middle innings before a ninth-inning rally fell short and they slipped to 55-43 on the season. Sean Manaea's workload Through four innings, the Mets carried a 2-1 lead as Manaea showcased the form that Mets fans had come to expect during his electric second half in 2024. Manaea began by striking out the side in the opening inning The only damage against the lefty was a solo home run by Austin Hays in the fourth inning. But it was a quick hook for Manaea as the Mets look to build him up after a setback with his elbow. The pitch count should rise next time out, but on Friday, the lefty was tasked with trying to get deep on a limited pitch count. "I want to be out there as long as possible, but I kind of understand the situation we're in," Manaea said. "I think it's just not taking too crazy, but just give them what I can with the pitches that I have." Two walks in the second inning helped drive that up, and Manaea called his lack of pitch efficiency the "most frustrating part" of Friday's outing. Mendoza says that the Mets will continue to go outing by outing to figure out Manaea's workload. But that obstacle, along with Clay Holmes already surpassing a career high in innings and Kodai Senga's need for extra rest particularly after his hamstring injury, could pile added stress on the Mets' bullpen moving forward. "That's kind of why you put Sean today and then kind of space those guys out a little bit knowing that you're going to have to cover a lot of innings when they're pitching," Mendoza said. "Clay, he's fully built up, but that's what we got right now." Alex Carrillo's collapse Alex Carrillo came on for his third major league appearance and recorded two quick outs. But the righty could not preserve the lead. He hit TJ Friedl and then Matt McLain tagged a knee-high fastball on the inner half of the plate for a go-ahead two-run home run. One inning later, Hays tagged his second home run of the night to right field on a belt-high fastball. And after a walk, Tyler Stephenson took Carrillo deep to left field to build the Reds' advantage to 6-2. "The fastball still did its thing and they just put the bat out there," Carrillo said. "They are a good hitting team. It's the big leagues, good hitters. They're gonna hit home runs, but when it comes to walks, that's not acceptable on my half. Yanking the slider a little bit, changeup staying away and not competing as I should be." The Reds tacked on one more run in the seventh off Brandon Waddell on back-to-back base hits, including an RBI bloop into right field by Elly De La Cruz, and another on a hit by pitch and three straight walks in the eighth. "We're gonna need length out of the starters. Obviously with Sean, that's where we're at, but guys will step up," Mendoza said. "We feel comfortable with the guys that we've got back there. Today was one of those nights where Carrillo didn't have it. But overall, we will continue to give opportunities to some of these guys." Brooks Raley's return is progress The Mets received a shot in the arm heading into the second half as Raley, who had been recovering from Tommy John surgery since April 2024 reemerged in the Mets bullpen. Mendoza said he'll expect to deploy Raley in high-leverage situations, but that moment never came on Friday night. "I think this team's gonna do a great job; they'll give me an opportunity to kind of get my feet under me," Raley said. "I know the role I'm supposed to play in this deal, and I'm comfortable in that role, so when my name is called, I'll be ready to go." Raley was a stalwart in the Mets' bullpen in 2023, posting a 2.80 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 61 strikeouts in 54⅔ innings. But he suffered the elbow injury after eight appearances in 2024. He was re-signed by the Mets in late April as he continued his rehab. Now, after injuries ravaged the Mets' stable of lefties, with A.J. Minter and Danny Young both suffering season-ending injuries, Raley's return is a welcome sight. "It feels like a trade deadline acquisition here," Mendoza said before the game. "We saw it last year for the first couple of months. A lot of you guys saw him the year before that and how special it is to have a guy like that that not only can get lefties out, it's a guy that with the way he spins the baseball, you feel good about whether it's a righty or a lefty." This article originally appeared on NY Mets need for pitching is underscored in loss to Reds on Friday
Washington Post
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Mets reliever Max Kranick expected to undergo season-ending surgery
NEW YORK — Mets reliever Max Kranick is expected to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow, the latest blow to New York's injury-depleted bullpen. Kranick was placed on the 15-day injured list June 19 with an elbow strain. He had Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and is facing a second major operation on his pitching arm in 37 months. 'He's going to have a Tommy John,' manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before his team's 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. 'I don't think we have a date yet, but he's going to have the surgery.' New York's bullpen did get a boost Friday when left-hander Brooks Raley was reinstated from the 60-day injured list after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Raley had been sidelined since early in the 2024 season. He finished his minor league rehab assignment with eight scoreless outings across three levels. 'We saw it last year for the first couple of months — how special it is to have a guy like that that not only can get lefties out, (but) he's a guy that, the way he spins the baseball, you feel good about whether it's a righty or a lefty,' Mendoza said. To make room for Raley on the roster, lefty reliever Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment. Kranick, who turns 28 on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Mets from Pittsburgh in January 2024 and spent nearly all of last season in the minors. He made his New York debut on March 29 — his first time on a major league mound since 2022. The rookie right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances covering 37 innings this year, though he allowed three runs over his final 4 2/3 innings before getting hurt. Mendoza also provided updates on injured designated hitters Jesse Winker and Starling Marte. Winker (back) received an epidural Friday and will be shut down from baseball activities for another seven to 10 days. Marte (bruised right knee) will continue to do baseball activities for another three to five days. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets reliever Max Kranick expected to undergo season-ending surgery
NEW YORK (AP) — Mets reliever Max Kranick is expected to have season-ending surgery on his right elbow, the latest blow to New York's injury-depleted bullpen. Kranick was placed on the 15-day injured list June 19 with an elbow strain. He had Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and is facing a second major operation on his pitching arm in 37 months. 'He's going to have a Tommy John,' manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before his team's 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. 'I don't think we have a date yet, but he's going to have the surgery.' New York's bullpen did get a boost Friday when left-hander Brooks Raley was reinstated from the 60-day injured list after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Raley had been sidelined since early in the 2024 season. He finished his minor league rehab assignment with eight scoreless outings across three levels. 'We saw it last year for the first couple of months — how special it is to have a guy like that that not only can get lefties out, (but) he's a guy that, the way he spins the baseball, you feel good about whether it's a righty or a lefty,' Mendoza said. To make room for Raley on the roster, lefty reliever Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment. Kranick, who turns 28 on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Mets from Pittsburgh in January 2024 and spent nearly all of last season in the minors. He made his New York debut on March 29 — his first time on a major league mound since 2022. The rookie right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances covering 37 innings this year, though he allowed three runs over his final 4 2/3 innings before getting hurt. Mendoza also provided updates on injured designated hitters Jesse Winker and Starling Marte. Winker (back) received an epidural Friday and will be shut down from baseball activities for another seven to 10 days. Marte (bruised right knee) will continue to do baseball activities for another three to five days. ___ AP MLB:
