Blue Jays: Strikeout type free agent relievers to pursue this offseason

Miguel Castro – RHP

A former Blue Jays prospect roughly ten years ago, right-hander Miguel Castro is heading to free agency this offseason after spending the past seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Yankees.

Fans might remember Castro from back in 2015 when the relief pitcher cracked the Opening Day roster and racked up four saves before being sent down to AAA in early May. He would later be traded alongside a package of other prospects for Troy Tulowitzki at the deadline later that year and has earned a career 4.12 ERA through 333 appearances and 382.1 innings of work since then.

Castro isn’t the flashiest arm available on the open market but sits in the upper 90s with his sinker and earned a 9.6 K/9 last year, although he did deal with injuries that limited him to only 29.0 innings with the Yankees. He did sit in the 97th percentile for fastball velocity and that type of power could bode well amongst the other relief options the Jays currently employ, using his slider primarily at a 44.5% clip compared to the sinker (36.5%) and changeup (19.0%).

Ultimately, signing Castro is a low-risk middle relief option that could pay dividends should he stay healthy and if he can reel in the walks (4.7 BB/9 last year). I would think signing Castro wouldn’t be the only move the Blue Jays make in the bullpen market but having him in Spring Training as some extra competition couldn’t hurt as well.