PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates and two-time All-Star reliever Gregory Soto have agreed to a $7.75 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.
Soto gives the Pirates an experienced left-handed option in a bullpen that will get a makeover in 2026 after relievers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta were designated for assignment last month.
The 30-year-old Soto is 15-34 with a 4.26 ERA and 56 saves over seven seasons with five teams. He was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 for Detroit. He spent 2025 with Baltimore and the New York Mets, who acquired him in late July just before the trade deadline.
Soto struggled in New York, going 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 25 appearances. His departure is the second significant subtraction from the Mets bullpen in free agency after closer Edwin Díaz agreed to a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier Tuesday.
Pittsburgh appears to be settled at the back end of the bullpen, where Dennis Santana performed well after two-time All-Star David Bednar was traded to the New York Yankees last season. Soto gives the Pirates a pitcher who has filled a variety of roles, including closer.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
FILE - New York Mets pitcher Gregory Soto throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sept. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
MONTREAL (AP) — Tampa Bay scored three times in the first period, Darren Raddysh scored a pair of third-period goals, and the Lightning coasted to a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
Brayden Point, Pontus Holmberg and Nikita Kucherov had goals in the first period to help the Lightning snap a four-game losing streak. Charle-Edouard D’Astous added a second-period goal for Tampa Bay.
Jonas Johansson made 26 saves in his fourth consecutive start in relief of Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday with an undisclosed injury.
Oliver Kapanen scored a power-play goal in the final minute of the second period for Montreal. Jakub Dobes allowed three goals on 14 shots before being replaced by Sam Montembeault to start the second period. Montembeault, making his first appearance since Dec. 2, surrendered three goals on 12 shots.
Cole Caufield's 11-game point streak came to an end in the loss.
Point’s first-period goal was the team’s first goal in 130:43, with the Lightning having been shut out by identical 2-0 scores in their previous two games.
Ivan Demidov’s failed pass attempt to Noah Dobson at the Canadiens’ blue line came just as Holmberg’s minor penalty for interference was expiring. Holmberg, fresh out of the penalty box, caught up with the loose puck, beating Dobes on a breakaway to give the Lightning a 2-0 lead.
Jake Guentzel collected his 600th career NHL point with an assist on Point’s goal. He became the 58th U.S.-born player in NHL history to achieve the feat.
Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman left the game in the first period with an injury.
Lightning: At New Jersey on Thursday night.
Canadiens: At Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson (31) makes a save on Montreal Canadiens' Josh Anderson (17) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) watches the puck go wide of the net as Tampa Bay Lightning' Jake Guentzel (59) and Charle-Edouard D'Astous (51) stand in front during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tampa Bay Lightning' Nikita Kucherov (86) skates with the puck while Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Montreal, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tampa Bay Lightning' Charle-Edouard D'Astous (51) celebrates his goal with teammates Nikita Kucherov (86) and Darren Raddysh (43) during second period NHL hockey action against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
