Orioles trade Miguel Castro to Mets at deadline (updated)

The Orioles have lost another reliever at today's trade deadline.

Miguel Castro has been dealt to the Mets for minor league left-hander Kevin Smith and a player to be named later or cash, according to reports. The news broke a few minutes past 4 p.m., but an agreement already was in place.

Smith, 23, was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Georgia. He struck out 130 batters in 117 combined innings at the Single-A and Double-A levels in 2019 and also registered a 3.15 ERA and 1.256 WHIP.

Over two minor league seasons, the 6-foot-5 Smith has gone 12-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.173 WHIP with 158 strikeouts in 140 2/3 innings. Twenty-six of his 35 appearances have come as a starter, including all 23 last summer.

Baseball America and MLB Pipeline ranked Smith as the No. 12 prospect in the Mets system.

The Orioles host the Mets in a two-game series beginning Tuesday night. Castro has been traded and still comes back to Camden Yards.

Castro, 25, hasn't been available the last two days due to an illness, according to manager Brandon Hyde. He registered a 4.02 ERA and 1.404 WHIP with 24 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.

The Orioles acquired Castro from the Rockies in April 2017 for a PTBNL who became minor league pitcher Jon Keller.

Castro was 7-13 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.374 WHIP in 183 games with the Orioles. They always loved his arm but were challenged to get him to repeat his delivery and consistently find the strike zone.

Removing Castro from the bullpen one day after Mychal Givens has left the Orioles thin in late inning relief. Hunter Harvey came off the injured list yesterday but won't work on back-to-back days.

A reliever must be added to the roster for Tuesday's game. Smith is headed to the alternate camp site in Bowie.

The PTBNL would come from outside the Mets' 60-man pool.

The trade hasn't been announced.

Update: It's been announced.

The 40-man roster currently has 38 players. The 60-man player pool has 58 players.