José Castillo: Everything you need to know

The Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball signed Castillo to a contract Monday, the pitcher's agency, OL Baseball Group, reports. Castillo bounced around to four different teams during the 2025 regular season, collecting a 3.94 ERA and 30:14 K:BB over 32 innings between the Diamondbacks, Mets, Mariners and Orioles. The left-handed reliever will now try his luck overseas in 2026.

The Mets non-tendered Castillo on Friday. Just two weeks after claiming Castillo off waivers from Baltimore, the Mets will now send him into free agency. The 29-year-old southpaw posted a 3.94 ERA and 1.69 WHIP across 32 innings between four different teams in 2025. He'll now have an opportunity to pick where he begins the 2026 campaign, though he may have to settle for a minor-league deal.

The Mets claimed Castillo off waivers from Baltimore on Thursday. Castillo had stints with Arizona, Baltimore, Seattle and the Mets in 2025. He'll return to the Mets after being exposed to waivers by the Orioles. Castillo posted a 3.94 ERA across 32.0 innings of relief in the big leagues this year.