On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Slick relief pitcher Miguel Castro is looking for a new home this offseason as a free agent, and he’ll come at a discount. Who could make the most of this value veteran reliever this upcoming season? The answer may depend on more than just a good price.
Miguel Castro Free Agent Profile
A Rockie Start for a Slick Relief Pitcher
Drafted as an international free agent in 2012, the right-handed relief pitcher Castro joined the Toronto Blue Jays Dominican League affiliate team, where he quickly went to work and showed promise, earning a 3-2 record on 20 strikeouts with a 4.73 ERA. He would continue to work his way through the Jays farm system, showing improvement each step of the way. This facilitated his major league debut in 2015 with the Blue Jays, where he pitched 12 innings, before being traded to the Colorado Rockies for the remainder of the season. Overall, the 2015 season saw the reliever throw for a paltry 6.11 ERA on 18 strikeouts for three saves in 18 appearances.
2016 didn’t fare much better for the relief pitcher, seeing only his WHIP improve to 1.568 from 1.755 the previous year with no other statistical improvements. This led to the Rockies designating Castro for assignment in April of 2017, where the Baltimore Orioles would quickly move to make a trade for the still-promising relief pitcher and add him to their roster.
Getting Stronger
The 2017 season with the Orioles saw Castro’s best work to date, throwing 66 innings for a 3-3 record on an ERA of 3.53 with 38 strikeouts and a further improved WHIP of 1.221. This promising season would give the slick relief pitcher value with the organization going forward, signing consecutive one-year deals with the Orioles through the 2020 season. After being traded to the New York Mets in August 2020, Castro would end the season with a combined 4.01 ERA on 38 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched with a 1.662 WHIP.
The Mets would see Castro’s best work yet in 2021, where he had a 3.45 ERA on 24 strikeouts with a WHIP of 1.294 in 69 innings pitched. Castro would then sign a one-year $2.62 million contract on March 22nd, 2022 in the face of salary arbitration. On April 3rd, the Mets traded Castro to the New York Yankees for Joely Rodriguez . After slipping slightly in all stats, Castro would go on to sign a $3.5 million, one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2023 with a 2024 option. After moving to the desert, he’d tie for second in the league with 75 appearances for the World Series-bound DBacks in 2023, throwing 60 strikeouts for a 4.03 ERA with a 1.175 WHIP.
A Drop In Price, But Still Holds Value
2024 saw both a drop in ability and availability for Castro. After an impressive outing in March against the Rockies, April saw Castro post a 5.87 ERA in seven appearances before the club put him on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. After a lengthy rehab process, the veteran made just three appearances in July before the Snakes designated Castro for assignment and then released him outright.
Former #Dbacks RHP Miguel Castro, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday, has been released.
— Arizona Diamondbacks | Stats & Info (@DbacksStatsInfo) August 1, 2024
Though he is unlikely to offer the velocity he had just a season ago, Castro’s ability to create soft contact, with a career 32.8 hard hit percentage, resulting in an above-average 48.6 ground ball percentage primarily off breaking balls, is an attractive feature in a reliever. The 29-year-old left-hander can still get outs when it counts and offers enough value out of the bullpen in enough situations to be enticing to plenty of teams. The question is, who not only needs his talents but who is willing to invest in a one-year deal after a sharp drop in 2024?
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are in full bullpen rebuild mode right now, as they struggle to re-sign or replace reliable relievers. This need to spend could open up an opportunity for a utility reliever like Miguel Castro to fill in where needed and help spread out the innings, all while keeping the ball in the park for clutch outs. While the rumors swirl around big closers signing with the Rangers, signing Castro is the kind of deal that can help cement a season for a team looking to make it back to the World Series.
Athletics
Beyond moving pains after leaving their beloved Oakland behind, the Athletics have some moves to make in the offseason if they want to solidify their bullpen headed into what will be a novel season for the franchise. With several right-handed relievers testing free agency and arbitration, the A’s could look to add Castro as a slightly less costly version of someone like Austin Adams. If the Athletics want a veteran they could slot in where needed at cost, Castro could be the answer.
Veteran Relief Pitcher Looking to Shine
Off-years and injuries have led to less-than-impressive stat lines at times, but Miguel Castro has shown his potential out of the bullpen over the years and is looking to return to form in 2025. With the experience and soft contact qualities he presents, Castro can fill the role of veteran in any bullpen, and is likely to secure a one-year deal worth up to $1 million, possibly with a team option attached. There is also the possibility that an organization will sign Castro to a deal with some minor league time attached. Wherever the slick relief pitcher lands as a free agent, Miguel Castro is likely to show his range of skill and hold down the latter end of dozens of games this upcoming season.
More must-reads:
- Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani ties franchise record with HR vs. Twins
- Historic loss to Rockies a big moment in Cardinals' trade deadline decisions
- The 'MLB All-Star Game MVPs' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
New Third Base Trade Options For Yankees Emerge
The Rolling Stones knew what they were talking about while belting out "You Can't Always Get What You Want." It's very possible New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman will find himself humming that tune ahead of the July 31 MLB trade deadline. The Yankees, like several contenders, are shopping for a power-hitting third baseman. Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star slugger Eugenio Suarez sits atop everyone's list. Running a distant second and third are Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon and Pittsburgh Pirates Gold Glover Ke'Bryan Hayes. After that, it could be slim pickings. Should Cashman find himself scrambling to make a deal, here are a couple of new names entering the conversation. "Amed Rosario would be a good fit for Yankees," the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Monday. "Played a lot of 3B this year. .802 lifetime OPS vs. lefties (.845 this year). Suarez is top target but many would qualify as upgrades." Rosario is hitting .271 with five home runs and 18 RBIs this season for the Washington Nationals. But the nine-year veteran has big-market experience, making his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2017. The 29-year-old is making $2 million this season and will be a free agent after the World Series, according to Spotrac. But wait, there's more. "Other possible third-base trade targets include Royals All-Star Maikel Garcia — in theory, Kansas City would have interest in one of the Yankees’ outfielders to play left field for them," The Athletic's Jim Bowden reported Monday. Garcia, who made the American League roster for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, is hitting .291 this season with eight home runs and 41 RBIs. The 25-year-old is in his fourth big-league season and is making almost $775,000 this season, according to Spotrac. Garcia still has four years of arbitration eligibility remaining, so he won't come cheap. Make sure to bookmark Yankees On SI to get all your daily New York Yankees news, interviews, breakdowns and more! MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Linked To Red-Hot Reliever Yankees Linked to Former Outfielder in Juicy Trade Rumor Yankees Could Land Infielder With World Series MVP Comparison Will Yankees Use Red-Hot Prospect As Trade Bait? Yankees One-Stop Shopping Pirates?
Notes from Cowboys' second training camp practice: Schottenheimer threatens to kick out players, Pickens injury scare
Dallas Cowboys' training camp practice No. 2 is in the books so let's cut to the chase on this one and get right into the biggest moments. From head coach Brian Schottenheimer cutting a fight short and threatening to kick out players to a tough injury scare, there's a lot to get to. A lot of Kenneth Murray with the starting lineup In many of the clips coming from Oxnard, California, free agent signing Kenneth Murray keeps popping up with the first-team defense. He certainly looks like a potential starter at linebacker, where Jack Sanborn and Marist Liufau are also competing for starting roles. Though Sanborn has been talked about as the middle linebacker, Brian Schottenheimer said Murray has also worn the green dot denoting a player with comms with the coaching staff. "What I’m finding, now that I’m getting to know (Murray. . .) is the leadership he possesses," Schottenheimer said Wednesday. "He’s a grown-ass man out there. He takes charge. He makes a lot of the checks, he’s very smart, and he’s wearing the green dot for us in a lot of the things we’re doing." Brian Schottenheimer threatens to kick out players from practice Safety Markquese Bell, cornerback Troy Pride, and tight end Tyler Neville got into a scrap early during team periods, and the Cowboys head coach took the opportunity to send a message to his players. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, "Brian Schottenheimer called the team together and read them the riot act, threatening to kick player out of practice with the next fight." In the clip below from Nick Harris (Forth Worth Star-Telegram), Schottenheimer is heard saying: "I don't know what happened, I don't give a (expletive)." George Pickens' injury scare George Pickens went down as he attempted to catch a target during practice. Reports from Oxnard indicated it was a cramp. Fortunately, Pickens appeared fine after practice as he finished the day on the catching machines and jogged off the field. Joe Milton's 'touch pass' to Brevyn Spann-Ford Everyone knows about Joe Milton's bazooka arm but what to stay around the NFL for a long while, he'll have to show better accuracy and touch than what he showed with the Tennessee Vols. Though he needs to do it many more times, one play turned heads at camp: A play-action shot to TE Brevyn Spann-Ford that flew over linebacker Buddy Johnson. Later in practice, Milton fired a deep shot that missed WR Jonathan Mingo. The arm talent is there—and it's one of the best in the league—he just needs the touch to come consistently.
Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson ‘screamed’ at Caleb Williams before kicking him off field
There is no ramp-up period for the Chicago Bears at training camp this year. Head coach Ben Johnson brought the same intensity he harbored during OTAs at the Bears’ first practice of training camp Wednesday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. Adam Hoge of CHGO Bears said that Johnson was upset with Williams and the offense multiple times on Wednesday. He got into the face of the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft during a seven-on-seven drill. “Accountability is what I’m talking about, though, because, look, it was like a three-strike thing, let’s call three strikes, and you’re out all right,” Hoge said on the CHGO podcast. “Because we saw Ben get in Caleb’s, you know what, during seven-on-sevens about something. I don’t know what it was about, but he wasn’t happy, and he was screaming at him, alright.” Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson tried to show patience Johnson tried to show patience with the second mistake, when there was a miscommunication with the wide receivers getting lined up. He let Williams and the receivers sort the issue out before the play. But Johnson didn’t stand idly on the third pre-snap mistake; another miscommunication between Williams and the receivers. Johnson pulled the entire first-team off the field in favor of the second-team led by veteran quarterback Case Keenum. Caleb Williams is picking up where he left off in OTAs Per multiple reports, the Bears’ offense had a poor day. Mark Carman called Williams’ performance on Wednesday the worst part of practice. “Today was just bad,” Carman said. “They had to pull the offense off the field. (Williams) wasn’t getting them lined up. It might not have been his fault every single time he’s his first pass was picked off (by linebacker Tremaine Edmunds). “He rolled right on long play, Cold Kmet’s wide open right in front of him. He ended up running out of bounds. It just wasn’t a good day for the quarterback.” Williams didn’t have a great spring. He struggled with every duty from calling the play in the huddle to getting the cadence right to throwing the ball into the middle of the field or further than 10 yards. As of Day 1 at camp, all of those things are still problems. But at least the $13 million per year head coach is mad.
Spurs ‘Hopeful’ Of Signing De’Aaron Fox To Extension
NBA reporter Keith Smith of Spotrac spoke to a San Antonio Spurs front office executive who said the franchise is “hopeful” of signing De’Aaron Fox to an extension. The Spurs can sign Fox to a four-year, $229 million extension starting on August 3. “When we made that trade, we knew what the contract status was, of course,” the Spurs front office executive said. “We see De’Aaron as someone who can grow with our young players and be a real leader for us. We’re hopeful we can make something happen to keep him in San Antonio for a long time.” The Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings on February 3. Fox appeared in 17 games with San Antonio before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie. He averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists. A one-time All-Star, Fox played in 62 games with the Kings and Spurs last season. He averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 46.3% from the field, 31.0% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line. Fox will make $37.1 million next season in the final year of his contract. The 27-year-old has career averages of 21.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists with the Kings and Spurs. The Spurs haven’t made the playoffs since 2019. However, they have a bright future with Fox, Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper leading the way. “We were so fortunate to have that luck in the lottery. Getting Dylan was just one of those things that happens and you’re so thankful for it. It was a cameo out here (Las Vegas), but you can see how special he is. A terrific competitor and I know our coaches are excited about watching him and De’Aaron and Stephon battling it out and making each other better,” the Spurs front office executive said. More NBA News Rumors
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
