Can Jorge Mateo and Gregory Soto Fill Key Gaps for the Minnesota Twins?

[Matthew Lenz]

With the non-tender deadline set for Friday, the Minnesota Twins could look to upgrade their roster via trade. While they have some decisions to make of their own, most notably on Willi Castro, acquiring two Baltimore Orioles could make those decisions easier.

Image courtesy of Left: © Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images; Right: © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Here at Twins Daily, we have written extensively about Willi Castro and the other arbitration eligible players that the Twins need to make a decision on over the next 24 hours. I specifically have been a proponent of non-tendering Castro and using that money elsewhere to improve the roster. That said, if the Twins go that route, they will need to find another utility piece to replace the 2024 Twins Most Valuable Player’s production. In addition to potentially needing utility depth, they absolutely need at least one more left-handed arm in the bullpen.

Shifting our focus to the Baltimore Orioles, super-utility Jorge Mateo is blocked by a large and very good young core that are still in their pre-arbitration years. Acquired at last year's deadline, Gregory Soto is a hard-throwing lefty that MLB Trade Rumors suggests the Orioles could move on from via trade or non-tender. Let's dive into each of these players and see how they would fit on the 2025 Twins roster.

INF/OF Jorge Mateo
From a versatility perspective, Mateo would be a near-perfect replacement for Castro at a cheaper cost. Non-tendering Castro and acquiring the Orioles 29-year-old would allow the Twins some additional funds to spend elsewhere. Cot’s Baseball Contracts ($$) predicts Mateo to earn $3.3 million in his final year of arbitration, about half the projection for Castro. Although his production at the plate would be a downgrade, he’d be an upgrade on basepaths and in the field. After a career year in 2022, Mateo has been a bit lackluster with 67 and 87 wRC+s in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Last season, he carried a .668 OPS with five home runs and 13 stolen bases across 68 games before his season ended with a UCL injury in his non-throwing arm. He may not be fully ready by the start of the 2025 season, but he is expected to be available for most of next year. His plate approach and quality of contact leave something to be desired, with above-average whiff rates and below-average hard-hit and barrel rates. That said, he has posted a positive UZR/150 rate at second, shortstop, and center throughout his career and also has the ability to play in both corner outfield spots. While his production at the plate may be lackluster, the Twins would greatly benefit from adding his glove and speed which makes him a really good fit for this roster.

LHRP Gregory Soto
As the roster sits now, Kody Funderburk is the Twins' only left-handed reliever, and looking at the top levels of their farm system, there aren't any names that stand out as candidates to fill the need of another left-handed arm out of the bullpen. Like Mateo, Soto is also entering his final year of arbitration and Cot’s predicts him to earn $4.5 million. While Soto has plenty of experience as a high-leverage reliever throughout his career, he has now posted back-to-back seasons with an ERA greater than 4.00—although his sub-4.00 FIP would suggest some positive regression is possible.

The 29-year-old is an extreme groundball pitcher who is really good at missing bats and inducing weak contact. He features a plus sinker with above-average arm-side movement and a slider that produced a 49.4% whiff rate in 2024, the latter of which he uses to put away hitters. He also has a 98-mile-per-hour fastball but poor location—mostly sitting middle-middle with it—resulted in a .333 opponent batting average. While the Twins don’t necessarily need him in a high- or even medium-leverage role, fixing his fastball location could unlock another level that the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies and Orioles haven’t been able to do.

The Twins were a playoff-caliber team for more than two-thirds of the season in 2024 so, while these two players may not be top-end additions to the roster, they are relatively cheap depth pieces that fill needs and fit on this roster nicely. Moreover, if you believe in the team’s ability to develop players, these two players could turn in more meaningful and productive pieces for a team that will look to compete for the AL Central title in 2025.

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Do you think the Twins should pursue Mateo and Soto? Are there other non-tender candidates that you think they should look at? 

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[bean5302]

Jorge Mateo's playing time splits do not suggest he's a "super utility" player. He's a 2B/SS. He's never played more than 67 innings (8 games) in a season anywhere else, and not more than 20 innings anywhere else in the past 3 years. He can't hit so all of his 0.5 WAR value comes from defense at SS. Baltimore seems to be bringing him back, but much of the league speculated he might be non-tendered due to his projected arb salary at $3.2MM. 

	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF	Total
2020	20	0	0	24	7	4	55.0
2021	112	27	120	28.33	67	46.33	400.7
2022	0	0	1257.33	0	0	0	1257.3
2023	0	0	843	0	20	0	863.0
2024	457.67	0	31	0	17	0	505.7
Career	589.67	27	2251.33	52.33	111	50.33	3081.7
Percentage	19%	1%	73%	2%	4%	2%

 

The Twins are not adding a $5.6MM relief pitcher who should be better than he actually is according to results. Falvey does not spend money on relievers.

[DJL44]

I would not like Mateo instead of Castro but I'd be fine with adding him in addition to Castro.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I saw Cleveland may designate Sam Hentges. If he is healthy, I would 100% be on board bringing him in.

EDIT

I had forgotten Hentges will miss the 2025 season. Disregard

[Rod Carews Birthday]

These guys aren’t useless players, but aside from whether they are better than the players you have (Mateo probably isn’t and Soto probably is), they don’t save any money AND they cost prospect/player capital to acquire in a trade.  I’m just not seeing the upside for the Twins as currently constructed. 

[Vanimal46]

With what money? 

[stringer bell]

Mateo offers outstanding speed and defense and I would expect him to get plenty of playing time if he were playing for Rocco. If his salary is half of Castro's, he might be worth it.

Soto looked like he could emerge to be very good while he was with the Kitties. He hasn't taken that step for the other teams he has pitched for. 

 

[Reptevia]

No and no. Even the rose colored glasses of people on here can’t put lipstick on this salary crippled pig. It will take a very interesting trade(s) that will leave the Twins minus 2-4 top prospects to improve this team significantly. 

[nicksaviking]

No. Get better players or get no players at all.

A guy with a career .270 OBP will not “upgrade the roster”. These are June DFA candidates.

[DocBauer]

If Tonkin was not brought back...not saying yes or no to that...he makes up about half the difference of the $ between Castro and Mateo, and is the better hitter. So we downgrade to add speed but no bat? I don't like it.

The Twins need to find a single, quality, LHRP who doesn't stink against RH batters. I don't know exactly how they do that, but it's a need. But if Soto hasn't done that yet for all the teams he's previously thrown for, how does he fit? Do the Twins really see a "fix" they can make? If so, he's worth looking at. But at $4.5M projected he'd probably be the most expensive RP on the roster in 2025, or at least close to it. And that's too much for a guy who allowed a AVG against of over .300. If the Twins are interested, they'd better be right about a potential fix for him.

[Rufus]

Cleveland has not tendered Sam Hentges yet.  He is out for all of next season, but he might be an interesting left hander to sign and stash away.  Hoping he can come back in 26.

[Jocko87]

Mateo feels like a perfect piece on the Orioles roster, precisely because of all the young studs floating around.  He can plug and play around injury and learning curves without worrying about stunting his development. 

And a 4-5m reliever seems quite unlikely no matter who holds the purse strings.

Getting rid of Castro is a non-starter for me. He's worth his pay on this roster.  If the kids play him off the field maybe he can be traded at the deadline.  For now, far too many questions.

[Doctor Wu]

Neither one tickles my fancy, Plus, the Twins seem to have bad luck getting players from the Orioles, either via trades or waiver claims. Who was that pitcher we picked up the last month of the season, who only lasted about one week?

[RochesterDave]

O’s fan here and I believe that Mateo will be back in Baltimore 100% and Soto is probably at around 75%.  If a LH reliever is wanted, why not Danny Coulombe? For some mysterious reason (maybe health) , O’s refused his $4 mil option - after he has been very good for the last 2 years.  He was out for 3mos. Last year with bone chips , but pitched reasonably well in Sept.  

[miracleb]

We have internal option who can hit just as poorly as Mateo......pass.

[Doctor Gast]

You mentioned about competing in '25. Trading core Castro & picking up these 2 won't cut it. Yet that was the Twins' philosophy last season, trading core away & picking up worthless players.

[LambchoP]

No to both. Mateo is injured and is a clear downgrade offensively from what we already have. I love the idea of getting a hard throwing lefty for our pen, but Soto isn't the answer. First he's to expensive, he'd be the most expensive reliever on our team. His ERA last few years is over 4. He can get K's sure, but he walks almost a third of hitters and he sucks against eighties. We can and should do much better. How much would Aroldis Chapman cost us in a one year deal?

[Otaknam]

So make your team worse by signing less accomplished players, but it saves money. That does sound like what the team will do. 

[TopGunn#22]

Mateo would be an upgrade defensively at SS & 2B when compared to Castro but at $3.3 million, if an upgrade defensively is what you're looking for, why not just sign Jose Iglesias for $1.5 million?  And Iglesias, even though he has no power, has very good bat to ball skills.  Mateo's base stealing talent would also be wasted with Rocco as well.  Rocco's teams just don't consider stealing bases important, even with the recent rules changes.  

Soto wouldn't be a bad arm to take a chance on.  But this Twins FO doesn't pay $4.5 million for relief pitchers.  Caleb Ferguson is a competent LH who spotrac says could be signed for $1.5 million.  THAT's more in line with the ceiling our FO would go to sign a RP.  

I would really NOT rather trade Willi Castro.  But if he's needed in a deal to help bring in a young catcher like Rushing or Teel I would do that and sign Iglesias or give Luke Keaschall a chance.  I'd prefer to have Keaschall spend one more season a AA and AAA and have Iglesias as a one-year bridge.  

So while I appreciate the suggested Orioles Matthew, once you pointed out what the cost would be, I think there are better options for a hyper-cost-conscious team like the Twins.  

[Doctor Gast]

IMO Eric Haase (MIL) (C) $1.8M could be a non-tender candidate.