Miguel Castro

Castro was dealt from the Orioles to the Mets in August, breaking up the already shortened season. Aside from the change of scenery, Castro's skill profile improved as his strikeout rate jumped to 33% -- 11% higher than his previous career-best. Backing this increase was an uptick in velocity, continuing a progressive trend that began in 2018. Castro also had a corresponding uptick in swinging strike rate, which rose from 9.6% in 2018 to 13.5% in 2020. However, his long-term problems with control persisted, as he posted an 11.3 BB% that played a large role in his 1.66 WHIP. Castro will also have to prove that his career-worst 1.5 HR/9 was a small-sample fluke, which he did to some degree by allowing only one long ball in nine innings after being dealt to the Mets. Despite his improvements, Castro should be in line for a mid-leverage role this season, as the Mets have one of the more talented bullpens in the league.

Castro led all Orioles' relievers with 73.1 innings, but he didn't do much of fantasy relevance with them other than recording two saves. He wasn't terrible, as he increased his strikeout rate from 15.2% to 22.3% en route to a 4.66 ERA, a number good enough for a technically above-average 99 ERA+ given his tough home park. It's too early to give up hope for Castro as he enters his age-25 season, however. He has a plus slider and a fastball that averaged 97.8 mph, up nearly two ticks from 2018. His 12.9 percent walk rate held him back, but pitchers of Castro's size (6-foot-7) often take a while for their control to come around. The righty's numbers to date don't give much reason to believe he'll be pitching in the ninth inning early in the season, but it's not impossible to envision him figuring something out and becoming a high-leverage option by the end of the year.

Castro entered the spring as a potential starter, but after the Orioles added several veteran starters in camp, he was shifted to a long-relief role. Castro shattered his career highs with 86.1 innings over 63 appearances, all but one out of the bullpen. Normally, a reliever logging that many innings has fantasy value, but with just 57 strikeouts and a whopping 50 walks, Castro's name could be found on available player lists far and wide. Castro has the stuff to be a quality reliever if he can hone his control, especially with his 96-mph fastball. Last season, his slider and changeup both rated as positive pitches, but the fastball checked in with a negative value. Still just 24 years old, it's too early to give up on such a live arm. The best course of action is monitoring Castro's walk rate in the spring and if he's significantly reduced the free passes, he could be worth a flier, especially if more punchouts come along for the ride.

Castro was designated for assignment by the Rockies just before the 2017 season got underway, and he was subsequently dealt to the Orioles in what was a far more impactful trade than many expected. In a year when Baltimore's relief corps regressed from its 2016 form, Castro was a bright spot as he posted a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 39 outings (one start). The 6-foot-7 righty relied heavily on his sinker and slider, using his unique release point and strong velocity (95.6 mph) to limit the opposition. Question marks remain, however, as Castro didn't generate much in the way of strikeouts with a subpar 5.1 K/9 along with a 4.98 FIP and .232 BABIP allowed. As it stands, Castro is expected to transition into a starter in the Orioles' thin rotation. While he does have intriguing attributes, Castro is a young and largely unproven commodity with a difficult transition ahead of him.

Many see Castro as the Rockies' closer of the future, but he didn't do much to instill confidence in 2016. The young right-hander made the Opening Day roster after a strong spring showing and was incredibly successful right out of the gate, sporting a 1.50 ERA and an outstanding 12.0 K/9 in six April appearances. He hit a bump in the road shortly thereafter, however, as he injured his shoulder and didn't pitch in a game until late May. After that incident, he struggled to the tune of a 9.35 ERA, prompting a demotion to Triple-A. The 21-year-old will compete for a bullpen role thanks to his high-octane arm that routinely touches the upper-90s, but he'll need to take a step forward in 2017 to retain his "closer-in-waiting" tag.

At 20 years old, Castro projected to be a long-term pitching solution for the Blue Jays, either as a starter or as a closer. He was given the chance to close at the beginning of the year, but struggled as he went 4-for-6 in save opportunities with a 4.38 ERA. Castro was sent back to the minors after his struggles, and then traded to the Rockies in the Troy Tulowitzki deal. He found his way onto the Rockies roster in September, but had issues then as well, giving up six earned runs in a mere 5.1 innings. Castro can touch 100 mph with his fastball and could be the closer of the future for the Rockies, but he may need some more seasoning in the minors before becoming a mainstay with the big club.

The Jays invited Castro to spring training in January, seemingly to give him experience before pushing him back to High-A Dunedin as a starter to begin the 2015 season. Last year, Castro had a 2.69 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 80.1 innings across three levels in the lower minors, and his long-term role may still be in the rotation. Impressed by the 20-year-old this spring, the Jays have opted to make the hard-throwing Castro a part of their bullpen to begin the season. If he pitches well, it's not out of the question to think that he may obtain a high-leverage role by the end of the year.