The Angels are taking a low-risk flyer on a familiar big league arm, bringing in veteran reliever Miguel Castro on a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp this spring.
Castro, who just turned 31, is no stranger to the grind. He’s pitched in parts of 11 MLB seasons and has already worn the uniform of seven different teams.
That kind of journey tells you two things: he’s durable enough to stick around, and teams keep seeing something they like. He’s just three days away from hitting nine full years of major league service time - an impressive milestone for a guy who broke into the league as a 20-year-old.
Last season was a tough one for Castro. He started the year in the Astros organization but never made it to the mound in Houston.
Instead, he was dealt to the White Sox in May in exchange for international bonus pool money. Chicago wasted no time, adding him to the big league roster, but his stint was short-lived.
After just six appearances, Castro suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee while covering first base on a grounder - a brutal injury that ended his season prematurely.
Over the course of his career, Castro has logged 466 2/3 innings, almost entirely out of the bullpen. He’s technically made four starts, but those were as an opener in bullpen games.
At 6-foot-7 and a wiry 201 pounds, he’s the kind of presence on the mound that stands out. His career ERA sits at 4.24 - not elite, but serviceable.
His strikeout rate (20.4%) and walk rate (11.7%) are both below league average, but Castro has made his living inducing ground balls, thanks largely to a heavy sinker that’s averaged 96.5 mph over his career. That heater dipped slightly in limited MLB action last year, averaging 95.1 mph, but it ticked up to 95.6 mph during his time in Triple-A.
For the Angels, this is about depth and upside. Their bullpen is already a patchwork of veteran arms trying to bounce back.
Robert Stephenson, Kirby Yates, and Jordan Romano are all looking to reclaim form after battling injuries or inconsistency. Lefty Drew Pomeranz was a bright spot with the Cubs in 2025, but that was his first MLB action since 2021 - and at 37, he’s far from a sure thing.
New manager Kurt Suzuki doesn’t have a bullpen filled with locked-in roles or proven late-inning options. That opens the door for someone like Castro.
If he can stay healthy and show he still has some life in that sinker this spring, there’s a real shot he could carve out a spot in Anaheim’s bullpen. And for a team looking to stabilize its relief corps, a veteran with Castro’s experience - even coming off injury - is worth a long look.