The Texas Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher Diego Castillo to a minor league contract, as reported on Castillo’s player page on MLB.com. While specific details of the deal are not clear, it is presumed to include an invitation to big league Spring Training.
Diego Castillo, who will turn 30 next month, made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. In the early years of his career, Castillo established himself as a reliable middle reliever for the Rays, posting a 3.30 ERA and 3.53 FIP in 125 1/3 innings across 108 appearances. His success included a strong strikeout rate of 28.5%, a walk rate of 8.6%, and an impressive groundball rate of 51.8%.
The right-hander hit his stride in the shortened 2020 season, recording a stellar 1.66 ERA in 21 2/3 innings with an impressive 60.4% groundball rate. This performance solidified his status as a quality set-up option in the Rays bullpen. However, things took a downturn in 2023, as Castillo struggled with a 6.23 ERA in 8 2/3 innings for the Seattle Mariners, leading to his outrighting off the roster in May. His struggles continued in the minors, posting a 5.13 ERA in 47 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level.
Despite his challenging 2023 season, Castillo’s addition to the Rangers could provide a significant boost if he can regain his previous form as a quality reliever. Before the 2023 season, Castillo held a career 3.12 ERA and 3.69 FIP. The Rangers, who had one of the league’s least effective bullpens in 2023, are looking for improvements in their relief corps. With key departures in free agency, the addition of Castillo presents an opportunity for the Rangers to strengthen their bullpen.
While Castillo will face competition for a spot in the Rangers’ bullpen during Spring Training, a rebound to his previous level of performance could be instrumental in addressing the team’s bullpen concerns for the upcoming season.
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