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The Major League Baseball trade deadline is still a couple months away, but a few teams are starting to upgrade around the edges.
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First, the Chicago White Sox acquired right-handed pitcher Miguel Castro from the Houston Astros for international bonus pool space.
Then, the Arizona Diamondbacks traded left-handed reliever Jose Castillo to the New York Mets for cash considerations. Castillo was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks earlier this week.
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Astros Trade Miguel Castro to White Sox
Castro, 30, joined the Astros on a minor league deal this offseason. Across 19.2 innings at Triple-A, he had a 2.29 ERA with 20 strikeouts.
Castro reportedly had an upcoming opt-out clause in his contract in early June. Clearly, Houston didn't have any intention of calling him up, so instead, they sent him to Chicago, a team in need of bullpen help.
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Castro has played for six teams since he debuted in 2015. Across 419 career appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks, Castro has generated a 4.20 ERA.
Diamondbacks Trade Jose Castillo to Mets
The Mets decided to shuffle their bullpen options, bringing in Castillo and designating right-hander Kevin Herget for assignment.
Castillo has made five appearances at the MLB level this season, sporting an ERA of 11.37 with just three strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched.
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The Mets had grown familiar with Castillo, as they faced him twice in their three-game series with the Diamondbacks last week.
On May 5, Castillo recorded two outs without giving up a hit or walk. However, two days later, he pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on one hit and three walks.
Castillo has played in parts of five MLB seasons dating back to 2018. He debuted with the San Diego Padres in 2018, making 37 appearances and sporting a 3.29 ERA out of the bullpen. Then, he made just one MLB appearance in each of the 2019, 2022 and 2023 seasons.
The Mets were in need of a left-handed reliever, so they'll hope Castillo fills the void in their bullpen.
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About the writer
Noah Camras is a Newsweek contributor based in Los Angeles. His focus is on sports content. Noah has been with Newsweek since March ... Read more