The Angels will have yet another new Opening Day catcher, as they announced Tuesday the signing of veteran backstop Jason Castro to a one-year contract. Castro, an ISE Baseball client, will reportedly be guaranteed $6.85MM before reentering the market next winter.
The signing helps Los Angeles upgrade its weakest position from the 2019 season, as Angels catchers (with Jonathan Lucroy, Kevan Smith, and Dustin Garneau had much of the playing time) combined for negative-0.7 bWAR. While virtually anything would’ve been an improvement over that sub-replacement level total, Castro brings a solid track record of success, with 12 bWAR/14.5 fWAR over the course of his nine seasons in the majors.
Much of that value has come from outstanding pitch-framing, and generally good blocking statistics despite a down year in that category in 2018. However, last season saw Castro enjoy his best year at the plate since 2013, as Castro hit .232/.332/.435 with 13 home runs over 275 plate appearances for Minnesota. Though the veteran backstop lost playing time due to Mitch Garver’s big season, it was still a nice bounce-back year for Castro after knee surgery limited him to just 19 games in 2018.
MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents ranking correctly predicted a deal between Castro (34th on our list) and the Angels, and his one-year, $6.85MM pact topped our two-year/$10MM projection in terms of average annual value, if not in term length. While it is perhaps understanding that teams were wary of committing multiple years to a 32-year-old catcher with a torn meniscus on his injury history, it is maybe still a bit of a surprise that Castro wasn’t able to get more than one year given the dearth of other catching options on the market.
The Rangers, Rays, Rockies, and Pirates are among the clubs with notable needs behind the plate, and now Robinson Chirinos (who could be close to a deal himself) stands out as the clear top choice remaining. Should Texas miss out on Chirinos, the Angels will have done well to secure a solid veteran catcher ahead of their AL West rivals.
Castro is the latest notable addition for Angels GM Billy Eppler in a winter that has already seen Anthony Rendon, Julio Teheran, and Dylan Bundy head to Anaheim. While the Halos are known to still be looking for more rotation help, the addition of an excellent pitch-framer like Castro should also help the staff prevent runs.
ESPN.com’s Jeff Passan first reported the agreement and the terms (Twitter link).
good signing.
This is fine. He doesn’t suck.
He fits there catching void
mlb fantic, possibly. grammar fanatic, not so much.
Typing fanatic, copyediting fanatic, not so much. If you’re going to criticize, don’t make any mistakes.
Haha yeah! Eat your hat!
Did you self upvote this one too, little one?
Well, at least you didn’t criticize for being a troll.
Finally!! A proper use for that 1800’s reference!!
clepto
No but I’m certain you upvoted yours. Because you never get upvotes.
Oh the irony.
Your grammar is not much better if at all.
Can he pitch?
No but Russell Martin can.
cAn he pItcH?
Does he draw rave reviews?
Good deal
Good defense little pop
More pop than Benboom and Stassi combined.
Don’t forget about El Tappe !
perfect fit. now maybe Andrelton Simmons for Trevor Bauer ?
I hate the Angels, but that is a good move, average offense and terrific defense to help nurture that pitching staff is great. Now the Rangers need to get Chirinos.
I think the Mets will get Chirinos to split time with Ramos.
I’m guessing Chirinos is looking for a starting job not to split time
I’m guessing Chirinos will look for a starting job instead of splitting time
Exactly
Well I guess Ohtani can return the catchers gear he got for Christmas.
I approve of your online sense of humor.
Great move for the Halos. Hopefully Castro does well out there and he ups his value for next year’s offseason. Under 7 million seems cheap!
Maybe we will be near the end of “the Angels have done nothing this off season” narrative
That’s more than I thought he would sign for but they needed him.
Such a great defensive catcher, angel fans will like him!
No way a great defensive catcher as I’ve watched him (when healthy) with Twins the past 3 years. Way too many PBs, struggles to block pitches in dirt and is woeful at throwing anyone out on bases. And that’s the positive for him. He’s close to an automatic out with the bat. If he ever comes to the dish with RISP and 2-outs–go get yourself a snack or use the bathroom as the only thing you’ll miss is a weak pop fly, groundball or whiff.
Defensively, for the 32 catchers who caught over 600 innings, fangraphs had him at 16.
Out of the 36 catchers who have over 250 ABs, Castro is 15th (wRC+)
Considering where the Angels were, that’s a huge upgrade.
Castro is pretty average in blocking pitches and throwing out runners. He is one of the best in pitch framing. Top 10 of guys with 4000 pitch framing chances last season.
With the Angels he will play almost exclusively against RHP where he hit .254/.354/.497/.851 with all of his 13 HR and a 125 OPS+ and 126 wRC+ last season.
I really hoped the Yankees would try to acquire him to catch for Cole…. Additionally, that would’ve provided for some balance with Sanchez in the postseason and for late inning replacement, if necessary. He’s a solid catcher.
put that one on the board
YES!!!!!!!
Now Alex Wood and bullpen help. I say Wood because all they need is a pitcher with upside who can pitch 100 innings.
great fit
100 innings might be asking a lot from Wood.
It might be, but he did throw 150 in 2017 and 2018. But even if he throws 60 quality innings, I’ll be happy, and six of the seven years of his career, he has done that.
That was predictable. I’d have been a little surprised if they didn’t sign him.
True, but it took way too long. I was getting nervous.
Good signing will help staff
He will most likely spend 100+ days on the IL but if he does play 120+ games then this is a quality pickup.
yup, he will spend those days on il in yo’r mama’s room!
This idiot is the reason they removed the thumbs down button
Great fit! if Angels can sign Will Harris/Alex Wood (not sure if they have enough left over) I think this will be a very good off season for them.
Harris signed with the Nationals.
I like an Alex Wood signing
I bet money Chirinos signs within the next 36 hours now.
I say he returns to Texas and splits time 60/40 with Trevino
I agree but 70/30 split lol
Great catcher, just hope he doesn’t end up like Lucroy
I got a bad feeling this is where his career takes a huge decline. I’m not an optimistic fan.
No pitcher yet
You’re right, well, unless you count Bundy and Teheran.
What people are missing is Bundy and Teheran are replacing.
Cahil; 11 Starts, 6.92 ERA.
Harvey 12 Starts 7.09 ERA.
Suarez 15 starts, 6.85 ERA.
Barria 13 Starts 5.52 ERA
Chris Stratton 5 Starts, 7.05 ERA.
The Angels needed Bundy’s and Teheran’s innings. I don’t think people realize how important those innings are.
They also don’t understand how much better Teheran and Bundy are than what Angels fans suffered through last season.
On top of those guys you mentioned, we also had Peters 5.38 ERA in 12 starts, Cole 5.92 ERA in 6 starts. Neither will have to pitch this season hopefully.
60 starts from Teheran and Bundy with a combined ERA of around 4.00-4.20 will be 2 points lower than the guys they will be replacing..
Yes both are durable and both have good ground ball rates. Should help the bullpen out as well and eliminate those wonderful “bullpen starting days”
And don’t forget about Ohtani.
What is this in aid of?
What is going to become of all these outstanding “pitch framers” when robo umps make their way to MLB?
You’ll get betting hitting catchers. I’m curious what will happen to base stealing. The catcher will be able to get rid of the ball quicker, but the catching wont be as good.
I am so looking forward to pitch framing going away. It’s baseball’s version of flopping. Too bad the umps can’t call a technical foul for pitch framing/flopping.
Good stop gap move for weakest position. Now if they can add a top tier starter, they have a legit shot at the playoffs.
It’s no secret the Angels need a front line starter. But I’ll never understand the venom people have for this team. Is it Trout envy?
The Angels could trade a bag of baseballs for Jacob DeGrom and all I’d hear about is how they’re wasting the best player in the game.
What about Marsh for Musgrove now ????
But why?
Angels hang up so fast. Musgrove sucks lol
“While it is perhaps understanding that teams were wary of committing multiple years to a 32-year-old catcher”
Understanding, indeed.
More seriously, this phrasing is always frustrating:
“it is maybe still a bit of a surprise that Castro wasn’t able to get more than one year”
He very possibly and perhaps likely was able to get more than one year, but on terms he found less agreeable, like 2/$8m or 2/$9m. It might be kind of a minor nuance and readers get the point but it is blatantly wrong/not based on actual info enough that MLBTR should really have a style-guide rule against it. The better phrase would be “that Castro didn’t get more than one year” if it wasn’t clear.
“It might be kind of a minor nuance and readers get the point but it is blatantly wrong/not based on actual info enough that MLBTR should really have a style-guide rule against it.”
But your argument that “He very possibly and perhaps likely was able to get more than one year, but on terms he found less agreeable” is not based on actual info. It’s a supposition.
You’re also using “was able to get” as roughly equivalent to “had offers for” which isn’t the way it’s used in the article. What Castro “got” was this contract with the Angels. Any provision not contained within that contract is something he “wasn’t able to get’ regardless of whether or not it was in other contracts he was offered. If he was able to get it, he’d have it. Dig?
Wood makes a lot of sense. They picked up two innings eaters, now they can get a riskier player with #2 upside.
$6,85 million…..about $5 million will go for California taxes !
Did he also get free Disney passes for the family also ?
Just a Disney + subscription
Sign Chirinos too. Castro never plays a full season.
The Angels have plenty of infield depth. Fletcher, Rengifo and LaStella, wpuld be fine with me. If the Angels can get Bauer for Simmons pretty much str8 up, i say do it. They have a glaring need for top of the rotation guy. To compete against the Astros they absolutely need to find that starter. Simmons is great but hes getting older and his contract is up next year as well
Nooooooo! Yankees need a backup and prefer someone that has caught Cole
Then you’re more likely to trade for Stassi than to sign Chirinos. He’s not signing anywhere that won’t guarantee him being the starter.
yanks are tapped out
Good thing nobody bet me $20 😉
Good move…
Now get some pitching!
Good move. I’d like to see us bring in a second catcher as a backup. If Castro gets hurt, I don’t think I can handle another season of Stassi.
I dig it!
Go Angels!!
great to see you post here, buddy!
Yay Buddy!
Much needed. I wanted him two years ago. And I would’ve preferred MLBTR be righ on a 2 year deal.
Castro doesn’t get much credit for his offense. His ability to find the barrel is actually pretty elite. Also, the five hitting profiles most similar to Castro in 2019 were Brandon Lowe, Keston Hiura, Ronald Acuna, Yordan Alvarez and Bryce Harper.
Mets will regret this too
Yup, insert snarky Angels fans comments (over a 100 times)
HERE…..
The ones that do project that on everyone else too. But there are some very cordial fans on this site that are willing to have objective conversations: Shout out to HalosHeavenJJ, koamalu, and macstruts. Many others act like you called their child ugly if you opine on an unfavorable Angels topic
Can’t hit, didn’t throw out runners last year and will be 33. Angels once again overpay for a player. Unless he’s a mentor for their future catcher this isn’t a good signing.
Well….your first comment only proves that you didn’t even read the article above. As “Castro enjoyed his best season at the plate since 2013”. So…wow….yeah…thanks for your input as I for one look forward to disregarding it in the future.
khouse I knew someone would make a false argument over Castro’s 2019 offensive season. Congrats. You just justified an overpay to a guy who may not play 100 games. Also, if you saw his numbers from 2014-2018, it’s not hard to have “his best season at the plate since 2013.”
If you’re scoring at home: khouse is a no-nothing. Thank you for bringing zilch to the table.
As far as throwing… who steals anymore? Last year he was an average catcher, which is a far cry from what the Angels had last year.
it’s a two win improvement, since he is one of the best pitch framers, maybe more. No way am I unhappy about this.
Mac, stop with the pitch framing crap. Most of that hinges on the pitchers on the mound. Don’t believe me? Check 2015 when Russell Martin was saddled with catching RA Dickey. He was one of the best pitch framers and his numbers lagged because of the knuckler. Referencing pitch framing is a fool’s game. Your Angels could have landed a great pitch framer at a fraction of the cost. And Martin was still shutting down the running game in-spite of it!
Gary Sanchez outranked Martin in 2016 (again, catching Dickey). In what world are we going to pretend Sanchez is a better receiver than Martin? Pitch framing is a very flawed stat.
Castro played in 70-something games. That’s not reliable by any means. The money could have been better spent.
It’s not “crap’. Do the type of pitchers you have help… sure. However., that was the last thing I talked about and it wasn’t exactly a powerhouse comment.
“it’s a two win improvement, since he is one of the best pitch framers, maybe more.
And I don’t see how it doesn’t help Canning. He’s exactly the kind of pitcher you are talking about.
So don’t give him the “maybe more.” The Angels had a negative WAR from their catchers last year. This helps a lot.
I don’t think it helps much at all. We will see come July.
Only a fool doesn;t reference pitch framing. The best gain their teams 20+ runs a year over average and more than 40 runs over the worst pitch framers. Castro will gain us 6-7 runs just at pitch framing.
Only a fool would mention a type of pitcher that doesn’t exist anymore as a reason to discount pitch framing.
The only better pitch framing catcher available in free agency was Plawecki and he hits RH. We needed a LH hitting catcher. Plawecki had a 64 OPS+ and 63 wRC+. Castro had a 101 OPS + and 103 wRC+.
Only a fool would think throwing out runners is more important than pitch framing. The best at throwing out runners saved his team 4 runs over the worst last season.. The difference between Posey and Castro was 1.9 runs for the season.
We needed a catcher. The money could not have been better spent.
Koamalu is triggered. Again. Hate to do this but someone should…
– Your math is nothing more than a mere prediction for an aging catcher with a brand new team. To stand by what you said is foolish.
– So you believe Gary Sanchez was a better framer than Russell Martin? If you rely on the data rather than the naked eye then your take is null and void.
– You think Castro can hit? Fine. Maybe he will. The main point was the Angels overpaid for Castro. Big time. And I think his stick will take a step back.
– I never said throwing out runners was “more important”, but if Castro’s numbers continue to fall backward that is not a good sign. Your data won’t show you any games he will cost because he cannot shut down the running game. But you twisted words because that’s what you do.
You got your catcher. You still have shaky pitching.
Wow. Everything you said was wrong.
My “math” was the stats. That is what actually happened. Pitch framing has nothing to do with teams. It has to do with the catcher. That you don;t understand that tells us all we need to know about your lack of knowledge of the skill.
There are no pitchers that throw knuckleballs anymore, so that is a stupid comparison. Martin still rated higher in pitch framing than Sanchez. 15.8 runs saved in 2016 for Martin and 1.0 for Sanchez. A 14.8 run difference. Getting the stats correct matters if you are going to call someone else out and you got them dead wrong.
Throwing runs are throwing runs. They represent how catchers control the running game. There is no other way to measure what happened. Castro didn’t regress in 2019. He went from -0.2 runs in 2017, his last full season, to -0.3 runs in 2019. Literally not statistically relevant, but why let facts stand in the way of your trolling.
Castro got paid about what was expected in this market. He improves our team by 2 wins. That is worth $16+ million.
End of conversation.
who cares what you think.
It clearly didn’t with your diatribe below.
kings – clearly the people who answered?
Why do you feed the troll?
What do you expect catchers to hit? He’s likely going to have about a .330 OBP with 10-15 HR’s, and that’s huge for any team from the bottom third any batting order. Catchers don’t just hit like that. Basically a left handed Chris Iannetta with better defense. Not great defense but good enough. The rest is up to his pitching staff.
Expecting a catcher to hit better than .231/.313/.435 when you’re making $6.5 million dollars. If that’s asking too much then I guess I have high expectations.
His career numbers aren’t good in Anaheim also. Not an easy park to hit bombs. At 33 I expect regression.
A league average catcher hit .236/.308/.405/.713 with an 85 wRC+.
Castro hit .232/.332/.435/.767 with a 103 wRC+
Target Field had a 0.870 park factor for HR
The Big A had a 1.081 park factor for HR.
That makes it a 20% easier place to hit HR than Target Field and 13% easier than league average. .
With all your assumptions being wrong, your predictions are going to be as well.
Well, we’ll sure let Castro know what you think/expect WereAllJustGuestsHere & just hope that, it doesn’t crush him too deeply LOL! Hey…here’s an idea…instead of directing all your energy to your own self-aggrandizement here…maybe, you should re-focus it on getting over yourself.
I see this bothers you more than it does me. Hedge your bets on Castro. I have no problem admitting I am wrong if Castro performs. I’ll be prepared to do that. Until then please don’t give me all the power to affect you. Afterall, you brought up the word aggrandizement.
In relation to his peers behind the plate, Castro is an above-average hitter. Of catchers with at least 250 at-bats, Castro ranked 15th in FanGraphs WAR, ranked 4th in base on balls percentage & ranked 15th in wRC+.
As it relates to the Angels…2012-14, Chris Iannetta & 2010 Mike Napoli were the only Angel catchers in the 2010’s to post a higher wRC+ than Castro did last season.
Plus, as other’s have mentioned, the move is pretty low-risk for the Angels given that his contract is only for 1 year.
Again, using data without actually thinking. Maybe this will teach you:
Jason Castro is a middle-pull hitter. Target Field’s dimensions is 367 to RCF and 328 down the RF line. Looking up online, which is your specialty, RF line is 350 and 370 to RCF. A 22 foot difference down the line and you want to bring park factors to argue for a player who barely hits and does not hit to LF with power all that much. LF line is 347 in Anaheim, 8 feet further than Target.
As the saying goes, don’t play the numbers play the man. Keep you numbers and pray. We hope you learned something from this easy lesson.
2019 – 13 HR
Homeruns at Home – 7
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 3
=Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF: 4
Homeruns Away – 6
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 3
-Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF = 3
2018 – 1 HR
-Homeruns Away – 1
Hit to LF/LF=CF/CF – 1
2017 – 10 HR
Homeruns at Home – 6
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 3
=Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF: 3
Homeruns Away – 4
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 2
-Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF = 2
2016 – 11 HR
Homeruns at Home – 5
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 2
=Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF: 3
Homeruns Away – 6
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 5
-Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF = 1
2015 – 11 HR
Homeruns at Home – 8
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 5
=Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF: 3
Homeruns Away – 3
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 2
-Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF = 1
2014 – 14 HR
Homeruns at Home – 10
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 7
=Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF: 3
Homeruns Away – 4
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 2
-Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF = 2
2013 – 18 HR
Homeruns at Home – 13
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 9
=Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF: 4
Homeruns Away – 4
-Hit to RF/RF-CF – 2
-Hit to LF/LF-CF/CF = 2
And 7 of his first 8 career HRs went RF/RF-CF
So looks like what we actually have is a traditional pull hitter who developed the ability/tendency to go the other way much more regularly. His spray charts for his Minnesota tenure reflect this balls to all fields approach with non-HR batted balls, including a noticeable ability to hit line drives the other way.
It’s almost as if Park Factor takes more into consideration than the difference in outfield-fence distance difference. Which you know because you use a version of it to cut Nolan Arenado’s career in half, then completely discard the home games, and dimensions doesn’t come up.
You can go back to the unrealistic expectations for offensive output at catcher and acting as if a 1 year, 6.5 million dollar contract is somehow an astronomical amount for above average production behind the plate and a veteran game caller to guide the as-always-uncertain pitching staff (with pitch-framin’ skills!).
What are debating here…..you’ve got a second string, 30+ year old, career .231 hitting catcher with good defensive skills, that signed a terrific contract in a year where the catching options were extremely thin to say the least….and were debating about his hitting prowess and how he deserved the contract?
He’s an average major league staring catcher, not a second string catcher. He may have added value because of his pitch framing skills.
Compared to what that Angels were sending out there last year, that’s a godsend.
Other than that, I’m not sure what anyone is saying.
@rocky7 You know chicks dig the guys that argue about a second string, 30+ year old, career .231 hitting catcher with good defensive skills
Oooooh, baseball minutiae line drawn hard in the dirt via a “what chicks dig” jab a’la prime Ted McGinley.
Also Mrs. Castro, Jason’s mother, would probably at least “dig” me making the effort. You’re welcome, ma’am.
#micdrop on the troll.
Koamalu…just visiting to let you know I was right and you were wrong. It’s something you should be used to. This wasn’t difficult. You say you are involved in baseball. Find a new line of work because your analysis is not helpful to anyone.
That was a brutal take down of Weareall dude, Nice.
And yet I was 100% correct in my assertion of Jason Castro.
Building themselves a solid little team over there on the west coast. World Series type? Idk… but definitely heading in the right direction
When that “nice little team on the west coast” can win more than 1/3 of the games they play against the 2 teams in front of them…namely the Astros and A’s…then give us a call….They’ve gotten SMOKED by the Astros and A’s and don’t see any of that changing anytime soon with the talent on those 2….the Angels aren’t even close!
Come on rocky. You can’t say the Angels don’t’ have one of the most potent line-ups and arguably the best infield in the game with Trout behind them. Now they have a great catcher behind the plate. Rendon allows LaStella to take 1B from AP to rest him. Ohtani is back on the mound, etc. They are down to needing one solid front end pitchier to round out the rotation. Without that pitcher, they are still a much better team this year than last, including the rotation. The Astros aren’t as good as they were. I believe the AL West playing field is as even as it’s been in a long time.
People who don’t follow the Angels typically can’t get past their record.
Which is fine, but they talk about the team as if they are experts. In reality, they don’t know a thing about the team.
Yeah, pot stirrers. They just want to get a reaction. Many of them criticize us for not getting Cole. I said before he was signed, that I believe we should not go over 7/210m. The smartest thing we did this offseason was not signing Cole for 9/324m. The Yankees will be anchored to that contract for almost a decade.
The A’s and Astros smoked the Angels last year.
Of course the team the Angels are sending out this year doesn’t resemble the team they are sent out last year and the A’s pitchers they are sending out this year doesn’t resemble the staff they are sent out last year.
And of course what happened last year doesn’t count in the standings.