Castillo, Chargois see old teams at The Trop

ST. PETERSBURG -- Diego Castillo called Monday “a little bit strange.” For JT Chargois, it felt like “emotional tug-of-war.” The two relievers were traded for each other Thursday night, and four days later, they found themselves facing their former teams.

The Rays traded Castillo, a key part of their bullpen for the past few years, to the Mariners for Chargois, who emerged as an important reliever after joining Seattle on a non-roster deal -- as well as infield prospect Austin Shenton. In a strange coincidence, the schedule brought Castillo right back to Tropicana Field on Monday as the Mariners began a three-game series against the Rays.

Castillo spent batting practice catching up with his former teammates and, at one point, Rays general manager Erik Neander. Chargois also made the rounds during BP, engaging and embracing with seemingly everyone on the Mariners’ roster.

“It's a little crazy,” Castillo said through Rays interpreter Manny Navarro. “You get traded, you leave for a few days and then come back to the team that originally had you. It is a little crazy and weird.”

Castillo admitted he was surprised and sad when he learned that he had been traded. He didn’t expect to be moved given the Rays’ status as contenders, and he was playing an important role as the top experienced late-inning arm in an injury-plagued bullpen.

Castillo moved forward quickly, focusing on his new opportunity with the Mariners, but he took the time Monday to reflect on how much gratitude he felt for the Rays and his time with Tampa Bay.

“It's a little sad, just because this is the first team that gave me an opportunity,” Castillo said. “I was with the team for eight years. We were doing so well; I didn't think I was going to get traded. … They opened up an opportunity for me being here. I think what I'm going to remember most is just the staff and the opportunity they gave me -- and of course, any time we made the playoffs, it was a good memory.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash expressed his appreciation for the right-hander’s work and refuted what he called a “grossly wrong” report that the club had grown unhappy with Castillo's conditioning and work ethic.

“The guy took the ball every single time we wanted him to. And like I said when we traded him, he's been as big a part as any pitcher that we've had of getting big outs since we got on the big run,” Cash said. “Wish him nothing but the best. And hopefully he has three off-days over these next three days.”

The Mariners are likely hoping the same for Chargois, who admitted he was having a hard time processing the emotions that came along with seeing his old teammates so soon after being traded. They were still able to joke around, however, with Mitch Haniger telling Chargois he expects nothing but fastballs down the middle if they square off this series.

“I loved playing with every single one of those guys. Like [Tom Murphy] just told me, we were jelling. And it's hard to see that go away,” Chargois said. “But [this is a] new opportunity and it's a great opportunity, so I'm also excited to be here.”

Around the horn
• While recording his third career save Sunday night against the Red Sox, reliever Matt Wisler threw 23 pitches in the ninth inning -- all sliders. But that was in character for him. The right-hander has thrown 379 pitches with the Rays, and 343 of them have been sliders.

That 90.5 percent usage rate might seem difficult to maintain, but Cash noted that Wisler thrives with his primary offering by altering the pitch’s shape and velocity and creating deception in his delivery.

“If he gets beat on a slider, he's getting beat on his best pitch. And we can live with that,” Cash said. “The second-guessing is so easy to come up in this game, but we know how challenging it is to navigate through a lineup. We know how challenging it is to see guys on back-to-back, consecutive nights. And whatever it takes to get them out, we're going to support.”

• Rays prospect No. 5 prospect Shane Baz started for Team USA in a 7-6, 10-inning loss to Japan in the Tokyo Olympics on Monday. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out one batter in 2 2/3 innings. The U.S. team now must win its next two games to reach the gold-medal game.

• Low-A Charleston outfielder Heriberto Hernandez, the Rays’ No. 10 prospect, was named the Low-A East Player of the Week on Monday. Hernandez, the top prospect acquired from Texas in the Nate Lowe trade, went 12-for-21 with three homers, three doubles, seven RBIs and six walks in six games last week, boosting the 21-year-old’s season slash line to .260/.397/.455 in 67 games.