Marlins purchased the contract of RHP Frank Castillo from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Castillo will start Thursday in place of A.J. Burnett and likely head back to the minors on Friday to open up a roster spot for Guillermo Mota.
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Veteran Castillo gets call for fill-in role
MIAMI GARDENS ? Frank Castillo will make his first major league start in 32 months tonight when the Marlins host the Mets, but the 36-year-old veteran shouldn't get too comfy.
Castillo's spot start will be in place of right-hander A.J. Burnett, who has been bothered by right elbow inflammation. Manager Jack McKeon anticipates Burnett will make his next scheduled start Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
"He says he's feeling great," McKeon said. "You have an ache or pain and right away you think the worst because you had some surgery there. All of a sudden the MRI says you're clear and says there's nothing structural, and all [the fear] is removed.
"The realization there's nothing there [is a relief]. It takes a lot of mental stress off you knowing what's going on in there."
Castillo, who is 82-103 with a 4.55 ERA in 296 appearances with the Cubs, Colorado, Detroit, Toronto and Boston, hasn't started since Sept. 16, 2002. He last appeared in two games, totaling a scoreless inning, in April 2004 for the Red Sox. That earned him a World Series ring.
He was 5-2 with a 3.79 ERA in nine starts with Triple-A Albuquerque this season.
"We had a few choices, but he's the most experienced guy we have down there," McKeon said.
