Miguel Castro makes White Sox debut
after coming over in a trade with the Astros
[May 17, 2025]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Miguel Castro and Vinny Capra joined the Chicago
White Sox on Friday, giving manager Will Venable a different option
for his bullpen and on his bench.
Castro, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros for
$500,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation. He went 3-0
with five saves and a 2.29 ERA in 17 relief appearances with
Triple-A Sugar Land this season.
“A guy who’s been there in the fire in a lot of different roles,”
Venable said. “We see him in that (Jordan) Leasure, (Steven) Wilson
group of right-handed leverage guys for us. He can pitch multiple
innings. We like him in a short stint, too. Excited about what he
can contribute to the bullpen.”
Castro's contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte following the
trade. He got a one-year contract calling for a salary of $1.5
million while in the major leagues and $250,000 while in the minors.
He can earn $400,000 in performance bonuses for games as a pitcher:
$100,000 each for 30, 40, 50 and 60.
The right-hander pitched 1 1/3 innings in a 13-3 loss to the
crosstown Cubs in the series opener at Wrigley Field. He was charged
with two runs and two hits on a warm and blustery afternoon.
Capra, 28, also was added to the roster before the game. He was
claimed off waivers from Milwaukee on Thursday.
Left-hander Jared Shuster was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, and
infielder Jacob Amaya was designated for assignment.
Capra can play second base, shortstop and third, along with the
corner outfield spots in a pinch. Chicago bench coach Walker
McKinven was on Milwaukee's coaching staff for the previous five
seasons, and he spoke highly of Capra to White Sox general manager
Chris Getz.
“We just felt like it was a chance to get a player that could be an
upgrade,” Getz said. “Jacob did a nice job defensively. That’s what
we wanted out of him. I think it got to the point where we
identified a player that could perhaps help and that’s why we acted
on it.”
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Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Miguel Castro walks off the field
after the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago
Cubs, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Capra batted .074 with a .121 on-base percentage in
24 games with the Brewers. He stopped an 0-for-36 slump with an
eighth-inning single on May 5 against Houston.
The last-place White Sox are hoping a fresh start will help Capra at
the plate.
“That was a small sample there at the beginning of the year for
him,” Venable said. “We view him on more what we expect him to be
like, which is obviously better than that. Excited to give him that
opportunity and see what it looks like.”
Castro signed a minor league deal with the Astros on Dec. 29. He
broke into the big leagues with Toronto in 2015. He is 22-28 with a
4.23 ERA in 420 major league games, also playing for Baltimore,
Arizona, Colorado and both New York teams.
Castro said he was surprised by the trade.
“When I got the news, I was getting ready to go out on the field and
stretch,” he said through a translator. “But that’s part of the
business and you never know where you’re going to end up. I’m just
glad to have this opportunity and to be here.”
Tyler Gilbert got one out in the sixth inning against the Cubs
before departing because of left knee soreness. Venable said Gilbert
experienced a similar issue during spring training.
“So we’ll be mindful,” Venable said. “He’ll go through the
evaluation process and see what we got.”
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