Mariners Acquire RHP Diego Castillo from Tampa Bay

In 4 Major League seasons, Castillo has a 2.99 ERA and 26 saves

ARLINGTON, Texas — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the Mariners have acquired right-handed pitcher Diego Castillo from Tampa Bay in exchange for right-handed pitcher JT Chargois and minor league infielder Austin Shenton.

Castillo, 27, has converted 14 saves in 16 opportunities this year as Tampa Bay’s primary closer. Beginning on June 23, he has tallied 10 consecutive scoreless outings, spanning 9.0 innings pitched, while walking 1, striking out 11 and holding opponents to a .069 batting average against. Castillo has not surrendered a run since facing the Mariners on June 20 at T-Mobile Park, when he allowed 3 earned runs in the 10th inning. He has allowed runs in just 2 of his last 20 game since May 22. Overall this season, he is 2–4 with 14 saves and 4 holds in 37 appearances for the Rays, posting 2.72 ERA (11 ER, 36.1 IP) with 10 walks and 49 strikeouts.

Castillo holds a 4.90 SO/BB ratio this season, ranking 9th-best among all American League relievers (min. 35 IP). He also ranks among American League relief leaders in WHIP (0.99, 10th), ERA (12th, 2.72) and opponent batting average (.200). Via Statcast, he ranks above the 90th percentile of the Majors in Chase Rate (92%), Whiff Rate (92%), Strikeout Rate (93%), Expected ERA (98%) and Expected Batting Average (93%).

“Diego has been among the league’s better relievers since coming on the scene in 2018,” Dipoto said. “We believe this move adds impact to our pen, both now and in the years ahead.”

Castillo remains under club control through the end of the 2024 season.

Castillo appeared in the post-season with the Rays in 2019 and 2020, going a combined 1–0 with a 1.08 ERA (2 ER, 16.2 IP) with 9 walks and 20 strikeouts. He did not allow a run over his first 10 post-season appearances, spanning 13.0 IP. He saved Game #2 of the 2020 World Series with the Rays.

Castillo has appeared in parts on 4 Major League seasons with the Rays, going 14–14 with 26 saves and a 2.99 ERA (61 ER, 183.1 IP) with 65 walks and 218 strikeouts in 167 career games.

Chargois (SHA-gwah), 30, made 31 relief appearances for the Mariners this season. He went 1–0 with a 3.00 ERA (10 ER, 30.0 IP) with 23 hits allowed, 6 walks and 29 strikeouts. Chargois recorded a 0.967 WHIP and held opponents to a .217 (23x106) batting average.

He was selected by Seattle on May 9 and was on the Mariners active roster since that date. The 6-foot-3 right-hander began the season at the Alternate Training Site and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma on April 30 before his selection on May 9. He signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with Seattle on Feb. 9, 2021.

Chargois has made 116 Major League appearances with Minnesota (2016), Los Angeles-NL (2018–19) and Seattle (2021), going 5–5 with a 4.13 ERA (49 ER, 106.2 IP) with 38 walks and 114 strikeouts. The Sulphur, Louisiana native pitched in Japan in 2020, going 0–3 with a 4.58 ERA (18 ER, 35.1 IP) in 41 appearances with Rakuten.

He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Rice University (Houston, TX) where he played first base and also pitched. He was teammates at Rice with Angels infielder Anthony Rendon.

Shenton, 23, has appeared in 67 games between High-A Everett (57 G) and Double-A Arkansas (10 G) this season, batting .300 (80x267) with 61 runs, 29 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs, 61 RBI, 1 stolen base, 45 walks and 72 strikeouts. The left-handed hitting infielder has started at third base (47 G), first base (14 G) and second base (1 G) this season.

In 120 career minor league games, the 6-foot, 205-pound infielder is batting .299 (139x465) with 90 runs, 46 doubles, 5 triples, 19 home runs, 97 RBI, 1 stolen base, 64 walks and 116 strikeouts.

He was drafted by Seattle in the 5th round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Florida International University in Miami. The Washington native was born in Spokane and attended Bellingham High School.