The Reds will promote young righty Luis Castillo to make his MLB debut on Friday, as C. Trent Rosecrans of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Skipper Bryan Price cited the 24-year-old’s strike-throwing ability as a prime motivation for his call-up over a few other hurlers who are working at the team’s Triple-A affiliate. Castillo, who came over in the offseason deal that sent Dan Straily to the Marlins, has impressed thus far at Double-A. Through 80 1/3 innings over 14 starts, he owns a 2.58 ERA with a healthy 9.1 K/9 to go with just 1.5 BB/9.
Here are some more notes from Cinci and the game’s central divisions:
- In other Reds pitching news, veteran righty Homer Bailey is set to make his season debut on Saturday, Rosecrans notes, so long as a pen session today goes well. Bailey, 31, has turned in three strong rehab outings at Triple-A, allowing just two earned runs on 11 hits through 16 2/3 innings while sporting a 17:3 K/BB ratio. The Reds will hope that can carry over into the majors, as Bailey remains an important player for the organization this year and into the future. He’s owed $19MM in 2017 and another $49MM over the next two campaigns (including a buyout on a 2020 mutual option). Bailey is working back from surgery for bone spurs in his elbow, the most recent of several procedures, and hasn’t turned in a full season’s work since way back in 2013.
- The Cardinals, meanwhile, ought to be preparing to sell at the deadline this summer, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch argues. Ticket sales remain strong despite the club’s scuffles, he notes, but that doesn’t mean 2017 contention is terribly realistic for a club that sits five games under .500. (It is fair to note, though, that the Cards are still just four back in a mediocre NL Central.) As for potential chips, Ortiz suggests that pending free agent starter Lance Lynn ought to be made available, along with relievers Trevor Rosenthal and Seung-Hwan Oh.
- The Royals are seeing some progress from southpaw Danny Duffy, as Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports on Twitter. Duffy, 28, seems to be one more pen session away from embarking upon a rehab stint, though manager Ned Yost suggested he’ll likely require three minor-league starts before returning to the majors. When he’s finally able to return from his oblique strain, Duffy figures to represent quite an impactful addition for a K.C. team that has pushed back toward contention even without its top hurler.
- As the Tigers struggle to stay afloat in the AL Central, the club is dealing yet again with bullpen woes, as Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press writes. Skipper Brad Ausmus suggested that he isn’t terribly confident in the bulk of the club’s relievers, which isn’t terribly surprising to hear given the numbers. Shane Greene may have eclipsed Alex Wilson as the team’s primary setup option, it seems, but as Fenech notes the Tigers still are struggling to hand off to closer Justin Wilson. While youngster Joe Jimenez is throwing again at Triple-A, Detroit is understandably taking things slowly with him, leaving few clear options for a club that sits six games under .500 entering today’s action.
AJ Preller is probably biting his nails right now hoping that Luis Castillo doesn’t become a “what if ?” He was the player San Diego had to send back to Miami in the Cashner trade because of the Colin Rea “damaged good’s” return.
Because barring any sudden changes Jared Cosart has been just as bad in SD as he was in Miami and also hurt all the time, Carter Capps is struggling to get healthy from TJ while working on tampering his hop delivery down to correspond with the new rule, which leaves Josh Naylor as the only real value that has come from that trade so far.
To be fair they also got all that for an awful pitcher who was a rental
That is true, I wonder if the Padres offered anybody else when Miami said they wanted to send Rea back or just agreed to give Castillo back without a fight. Maybe SD offered other players but Miami really liked Rea and weren’t interested in anything else, SD had to offer.
I know MLB stepped in to reverse this trade after what had happened, I wonder if they had any say as to who needed to be returned to the Marlins or if they let the teams agree on a refurbished deal.
Does it matter? Cashner was nothing for the Padres and was gone after the season anyway. Just Naylor would have been a fair return. I’d still rather have Rea than Castillo.
Yeah you’re right it doesn’t matter, half a season of Cashner who would have walked for free anyways at the end of the year could have very well bought us the first baseman who will be starting on the next really good Padres team.
He didn’t get us Will Myers
Naylor looks like he could be Prince Fielders son, no way he plays any other position for us than first. Wil will move to RF or LF if needed, his wrist injuries are behind him at this point in his career and he is one of the only the first baseman in the league who actually have speed and athleticism, if switching positions gets Naylor’s bat in the lineup Myers will do it, he is a team first type of guy.
Rather have Rea than Castillo… is that a joke?
2021 San Diego Padres Opening day Starting lineup:
CF Margot
2B Urius
LF Ona
RF Myers
1B Naylor
3B Potts
SS Tatis Jr.
C- Hedges
P- Espinosa
Hunter Renfroe would like to have a word with you outside…
Hahaha with the talent coming up some one will have to go! Either gonna have to be Hunter or Ona who we just have 8 mil guaranteed too, because Myers will have to move to a corner outfield spot once Naylor is promoted because he is a big man who is a lefty in a non DH league, he will have to play first. Wil is athletic enough to make the transition back to an everyday outfield role.
Or you just move Naylor.
It is hard to just say okay let’s move a young guy who projects to be a middle of the order bat with a ton of pop. Only him and Ona currently pose as guys in the system that have that 25-30 Homer annually upside. A lot of the other talent in the system seems to be more pure hitter types, Potts, Tatis, Urius, Gettys, Almanzar, Rosario all look like guys that will hit for average but probably a 12-16 homer a year average.
Got to have a couple guys in the lineup that are going to hit the ball out of the ballpark with regularity.
Wow… looking forward to 2021 makes me feel bad for you. Hopefully you live in SD to offset it.
Wouldn’t necessarily put it in the terms of “looking forward to”, more like forecasting who will be on this club in 4 years and what positions they will have to play in order to accommodate the influx in young talent coming up. Figure Myers and Hedges are young enough plus contractually controlled through passed that time window in which the figure to still be a factor on that club.
The names that seem may get squeezed out is Gettys by Margot, Renfroe might possibly be on the move if he can’t hit above .230 and if Ona is tearing up the minors at that time and at SS if Tatis Jr. keeps growing he may need to slide to the hot corner, while Hopefully one of Almanzar, Giron, Corboda or Rondon can step up and grab the everyday SS role at the big league level.
Padres have been long waiting for that golden tomorrow to arrive. Someday it will come.
Homer Bailey. Great prospect turned better than average pitcher. Take away all the injuries and that extension looks like a bargain. As it stands, though, his potential is a tale of unfulfullment.