The Seattle Mariners claimed left-handed reliever José Castillo off waivers from the New York Mets on Wednesday.
Drayer: Struggling Seattle Mariners acknowledge ‘the ball is in our court’
Left-hander Joe Jacques was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
The 29-year-old Castillo has a 1-1 record with a 4.98 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 22 strikeouts and nine walks allowed in 21 2/3 innings over 21 appearances with the Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks this season. After struggles in limited action with Arizona, he posted a 2.35 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings over 16 outings with New York.
Castillo has pitched in just three major league games since the start of July.
The left-hander features a four-pitch mix with a sinker, slider, four-seamer and changeup, per Baseball Savant. He throws his sinker or slider nearly 90% of the time, and his fastballs sit at 92-93 mph.
Castillo, who represented Venezuela in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, pitched in parts of four seasons for the San Diego Padres from 2018-23. He missed the 2021 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. Castillo has a 4.50 ERA in 62 innings over 61 career appearances in the majors.
Jacques, 30, has a 6.93 ERA in 24 2/3 innings over 24 outings with Triple-A Tacoma. He appeared in 25 games in the majors from 2023-24 with the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 5.46 ERA over 29 2/3 innings.
Lao claimed by Phillies
Right-handed reliever Sauryn Lao was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Lao appeared in two games after making his major league debut for the M’s this season, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out four over 3 1/3 innings.
Lao, who was designated for assignment Monday, is 2-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 69 innings over 22 outings (19 starts) in Triple-A.
Seattle Mariners news and analysis
• How the players Seattle Mariners traded at deadline have fared
• Cal Raleigh hits 51st homer, closes in on more records
• With Lou Piniella watching, Mariners manager Dan Wilson gets ejected
• It’s time the scuffling Seattle Mariners shake up their batting order
• Josh Naylor is giving the Mariners every reason to re-sign him
