| Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers infielder Zack Short found out he was traded on golf course
Detroit Tigers infielder Zack Short speaks Dec. 2, 2020, about being traded from the Cubs and how he’s preparing for the 2021 season.
The Detroit Tigers have waived right-handed reliever Anthony Castro to make room on the 40-man roster for the upcoming Rule 5 draft, the team announced Monday.
Castro, who made his MLB debut in the 2020 season, was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays. The 25-year-old was the Tigers’ No. 17 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
The Rule 5 draft takes place at the conclusion of the virtual winter meetings on Thursday, and the Tigers have the No. 3 pick. By waiving Castro, the 40-man roster has been trimmed to 39 players.
[ What to expect from Tigers as MLB’s 2020 winter meetings begin ]
In Castro’s lone appearance for the Tigers, he gave up two runs on one hit and one walk in one inning. His debut came in the ninth inning of a 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals on July 27 at Comerica Park.
He tossed 102⅓ innings for Double-A Erie in 2019, registering a 4.40 ERA, 1.368 WHIP, 116 strikeouts and 65 walks. That year, he pitched in 27 games (18 starts).
For subscribers: Evaluating which Tigers are being passed by as rebuild marches on
Castro signed with the Tigers in July 2011, made his professional debut as a 17-year-old in 2012 and has spent seven seasons in the minors. He missed the entire 2015 season because of Tommy John surgery. During his minor-league career, he accumulated a 3.48 ERA, 521 strikeouts and 248 walks in 556⅔ innings.
Expect Castro to compete for a bullpen role with the Blue Jays in spring training, but he will likely end up in Double-A or Triple-A to begin the 2021 season. Last year, the Tigers placed Castro on the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
The Rule 5 draft gives teams an opportunity to select an unprotected player from a different organization. To choose a player, the drafting team must make a $100,000 payment to the player’s former ballclub.
For subscribers: How Rule 5 draft pick Victor Reyes went from castoff to ‘valuable’ in Tigers’ rebuild
This player must remain on the new team’s active roster for the entire 2021 season — examples include outfielder Victor Reyes in 2018 and right-hander Rony Garcia in 2020 — or be offered back to his former organization for $50,000. After staying in the majors for a full season, the player can be sent to the minors.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.