Another reliever walked out the door today when the Orioles traded Gregory Soto to the Mets for minor league pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cameron Foster. Seranthony Domínguez knows that he could be the next one.
The bullpen is a hot spot in trade discussions.
Domínguez and Soto came to the Orioles is separate trades with the Phillies last summer, the latter on deadline day. Domínguez texted Soto earlier today after receiving the news.
“It’s part of the business,” Domínguez said. “We do what we have to do. I wish him the best and good luck to him.
“It’s hard when you get traded. You’ve got to move from somewhere to another (place) and get new teammates. But I wish the best for him and wait for what happens.”
Domínguez is generating interest, as well, with his 3.32 ERA in 42 appearances and 53 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings. He tossed a scoreless eighth yesterday in Cleveland, and Soto earned his first Orioles save.
“I just try to go one step at a time,” he said. “I’m here today and I’ll do my best to help the team win. That’s all I can do.”
Soto’s exit punches a big hole in a bullpen that has only one left-hander, Grant Wolfram, and a group of relievers unaccustomed to higher-leverage situations. Bryan Baker was traded earlier and closer Félix Bautista went on the 15-day injured list yesterday with right shoulder discomfort.
“We’re just trying to mix and match the best we can,” said interim manager Tony Mansolino.
“We’re gonna look at all the information and try to get guys in spots where the matchups are favorable to them. I think as you kind of saw some roles formulate when we had Baker here, it was pretty much Seranthony in the seventh, Baker in the eighth and Félix in the ninth, and then using Soto as kind of like a high-leverage lefty matchup guy, then using (Keegan) Akin as kind of like a bulk lefty guy. It’s gonna be hard doing that with how we’re currently constructed. It’ll probably be different most nights.”
Left-handers are hitting .138/.271/.276 against Soto this season, and right-handers are hitting .276/.371/.355. Some of the numbers tracked within the Orioles’ pitching department were among the best of Soto’s career.
“It was up and down at times, but he was getting lefties out, which is what he’s getting paid to do ultimately,” Mansolino said.
“I thought Gregory did a great job. I thought he probably got off to a little bit of a rough start initially in 2024, but after those first few outings, I think by and large he did a wonderful job.”
Akin wasn’t a consideration to come off the injured list today and provide a second lefty because he’s recovering from left shoulder inflammation. He pitches Saturday with Triple-A Norfolk.
“Then he’ll be an option for us after that,” Mansolino said.
The Orioles are going with only seven relievers tonight but it should be temporary. Infielder Jeremiah Jackson had his contract selected today from Norfolk, where he was batting .377/.398/.682 with 14 doubles and 11 homers in 38 games. Mansolino said Jackson would “pop in for tonight, and then we’ll go from there.”
Adley Rutschman will catch in back-to-back games with Norfolk on his injury rehab assignment.
“Ideally catch nine innings,” Mansolino said, “and then we’ll see him shortly after that.”
Kyle Bradish returned to Camden Yards after tossing two innings last night at High-A Aberdeen.
“He was positive, optimistic, felt great,” Mansolino said. “What a great first couple innings for the guy, too. For the ball to come out of his hand the way it did after missing so much time, we’re really excited about him.”
The Orioles play a day-night doubleheader Tuesday against the Blue Jays but Cade Povich isn’t currently in those plans.
“Right now we’ve got him scheduled to start another rehab start,” Mansolino said. “So we’ve got another rehab start on the schedule and we’ll go from there. Things change. Depending if guys get traded and spots open up and things like that, then we can probably be agile and adjust.”
Brandon Young is in Aberdeen in what’s likely a paper move, and he’s probably a consideration to start as the 27th man.