Phils trade for Tigers’ All- Star reliever Soto
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired AllStar reliever Gregory Soto and utility player Kody Clemens, son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, from the Detroit Tigers on Saturday in exchange for infielder Nick Maton, outfielder Matt Vierling and catcher Donny Sands.
Soto, an AL All-Star the past two years, had career highs with 30 saves and 64 games last season with 60 strikeouts in 601⁄3 innings. The 27-year-old left-hander has a career record of 8-20 with 50 saves in 186 appearances over four years with the Tigers.
The 26-year-old Clemens made his major league debut in Detroit last season, and hit .145 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 56 games. He played three infield positions and in the outfield along with pitching in seven games when the Tigers didn’t want to tax the bullpen more in lopsided games.
The 26-year-old Vierling hit .260 with eight homers and 38 RBIs in 151 games over two seasons with the Phillies. The 25year-old Maton hit .250 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 86 games over two seasons in Philadelphia. The 26-year-old Sands spent much of last season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, hitting .308.
Mariners: Seattle acquired Justin Topa from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Joseph Hernandez in a trade of right-handed pitchers. Padres: San Diego signed outfielder Adam Engel and right-hander Brent Honeywell to one-year contracts late Friday. Engel played in 119 games last season for the Chicago White Sox, making 60 starts. Honeywell made his big league debut with Tampa Bay in 2021 and appeared in three games.