Mets Bullpen: Pleasant surprise Miguel Castro is in the circle of trust

When the New York Mets acquired Miguel Castro at last year’s trade deadline I’m not sure many of us thought months later he’d be one of the key members of the team’s bullpen. His performance was underwhelming in 2020 albeit in a limited sample of what he had to offer.

Despite being a Brodie Van Wagenen addition the Mets could have erased easily with a non-tender this winter, the club decided to keep him around. Age and potential were on Castro’s side. Through the early part of the 2021 season, we’re seeing how much Mets manager Luis Rojas seems to trust him.

Miguel Castro’s role with the 2021 Mets is a big one

Castro isn’t quite a setup man but he is getting some important innings. More of a sixth or seventh inning man to go in front of Trevor May or Aaron Loup before the ball gets to Edwin Diaz for the save, Castro serves a vital role for this club.

It’s those innings between the starter and the closer that teams often struggle with. The Mets are no strangers to the idea of a blown save. Over the last few seasons, the bullpen has stolen more victories than anything else.

It’s amazing to see that Castro is only 26-years-old, making him one of the younger players on the team. Well-seasoned with multiple ball clubs already in his past, it appears the Mets are prepared to give him every chance to dig his heels in and become a core member of the pitching staff.

Miguel Castro’s role with the Mets when Seth Lugo returns

Not much can bump Castro from his current role with the Mets other than him pitching poorly and the return of Seth Lugo. Lugo’s role with the club as the multi-inning setup man could nix Castro from pitching in some of the types of games we have seen so far this season.

Still, Castro is in the circle of trust and probably not about to get bumped out until he becomes unwatchable.

Rojas has been quick to turn to Castro in games with the Mets leading. One of the first guys we have seen out of the bullpen when a win appears to be in the future, Castro should still line up in front of May and/or Loup. I would hope the Mets have the ability to alternate between the Castro-May/Loup-Diaz line to the Lugo-Diaz one.

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Hopeful they can win a lot of games this year, there’s no shortage of big relief innings for Castro to complete. He might never become the straight bridge to Diaz, but he can certainly help the starters get out of a jam and get the ball to the next man in line.