PRESS RELEASE
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitchers WELLINGTON ARACENA and CAMERON FOSTER from the New York Mets in exchange for left-handed pitcher GREGORY SOTO.
Aracena, 20, is 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA (64.1 IP, 17 ER) and 38 hits, 35 walks, and 84 strikeouts in 17 games (8 GS) for Single-A St. Lucie. He is one of two pitchers in Minor League Baseball this season to have thrown at least 60.0 innings without surrendering a home run, joining Toronto right-hander Gage Stanifer. In four professional seasons, he’s 7-14 with a 4.53 ERA (87 ER/173.0 IP) and 214 strikeouts in 57 appearances (34 GS). Aracena is currently ranked New York’s No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 28 by Baseball America. The Mao, Dominican Republic native originally signed with the Mets as an international free agent on January 15, 2022.
Foster, 26, is 5-2 with two saves and a 2.97 ERA (10 ER/30.1 IP) with 24 hits (1 HR), eight walks, and 39 strikeouts in 21 games (1 GS) between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season. As a reliever, he’s posted a 1.21 ERA (4 ER/29.2 IP). In three professional seasons, he is 13-10 with a 3.78 ERA (77 ER/183.1 IP) with 192 strikeouts in 66 appearances (26 GS). The Houston, Texas native was originally selected by the Mets in the 14th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of McNeese State University (LA).
Soto, 30, is 1-3 with three saves and a 4.33 ERA (26 ER/54.0 IP) in 68 games across two seasons with Baltimore, including 0-2 with one save and a 3.96 ERA (16 ER/36.1 IP) in 45 appearances this year. He was acquired by the Orioles from the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30, 2024, in exchange for minor league right-handed pitchers Moisés Chace and Seth Johnson.
