The Diamondbacks announced Friday that they’ve designated infielder Diego Castillo for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster will go to outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., whose previously reported three-year deal has now been formally announced by the club.
Castillo, 26, was traded from the Pirates to the D-backs 364 days ago, with Arizona sending minor league righty Scott Randall the other way in the deal. He appeared in just one game with the Snakes this season and went hitless in his lone plate appearance. He tallied 283 plate appearances in Pittsburgh a year prior but struggled to a .206/.251/.382 batting line in that MLB debut.
The bulk of Castillo’s 2023 season came in Triple-A Reno, where he played second base, shortstop, third base and left field over the course of 124 games. In 556 plate appearances, Castillo turned in an excellent .313/.431/.410 slash while walking more often than he struck out (17.4% versus 14.2%). In 177 career games at the Triple-A level, Castillo is a .296/.410/.407 hitter with nearly as many walks (124) as strikeouts (125).
Given his versatility, keen eye at the plate and excellent bat-to-ball skills, there’s a good chance that Castillo will draw interest from another club — if not in a trade (which seems quite plausible) then at least via waiver claim. He was never an elite prospect, but reports on the Venezuelan-born infielder have long touted his plus hit tool, even if that’s generally seen as his only above-average tool. Castillo has never swiped more than 13 bases and only has two seasons where he’s reached double-digit home runs; he hit just three long balls in 2023 despite spending the year in an immensely hitter-friendly setting.
Even if he’s “only” a contact-oriented utilityman, there’s still value to be had with Castillo. The fact that he’s being designated for assignment to make way for Gurriel’s return speaks to the manner in which the Arizona roster has deepened in a short time. The 2021 D-backs lost 110 games, but in just two years they’ve climbed to the World Series runners-up and are jettisoning a player who’d have been a veritable lock for playing time there just a couple seasons ago.
The Diamondbacks will have a week to trade Castillo or attempt to pass him through outright waivers.
It’s weird to think he was a expected to be a key part of Seattle’s bullpen as a late-innings option, but found himself in the minors rather quickly.
Weirder yet, Seattle would end the season with just two relievers that they had started 2023 with: Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz.
Wrong Diego Castillo. This guy is an infielder.
Only if you read the post.
Zing!
The ‘zing’ was definitely on me! i laughed.
Hitting well in the minors doesn’t always translate into success in the majors
buddy didn’t even read the post at all and went straight to the comment section LOL
I literally admitted that, with a little fun at my own expense, before your ill-timed response LOL.
Thank you, Captain Obvious.
No worries, we’re all human, happy holidays!
I didn’t mean it in a bad way, I’m just expressing the funniness in the comment. im sorry that my comment made you mad
It didn’t make me mad, it made me laugh more!
But I brought this upon myself and it really was funny.
LMAO…… My thoughts exactly! Someone DFA’d Diego…… Gawd I hope Jerry isn’t Xmas shopping for a reliever right now…… And then huh? There’s more than one Diego?
I was literally researching the Seattle bullpen this morning, so I jumped to conclusions pretty quick. And honestly, it made my day! Sometimes goofs can really lighten the mood.
Seattle actually DFAd Diego a long time ago and I think they should be looking for a closing option. I’ve talked about Tanner Scott making sense via trade. But so much depends on what they think they can do with these new names they’ve acquired this offseason.
Morosi noted again today that Seattle may have real interest in Mitch Garver and I think he makes a lot of sense for them. But they’d still need two outfielders and there’s an argument for a third baseman.
It’s late December now and the shopping list is longer than it was when the offseason started. What a time to be a fan.
Omg dude read the article before making a not so bright statement
That high OBP looks interesting. I’d say the Tigers should kick the tires but they already have 5 similar type players.
Right ! Like it’s 1973 and mlb is about manufacturing runs lol.
His minor stats were well below average for his team.
Was never a high obp guy before.
@Joeydonuts .278/.355/.487 in 2021 in his first experience of the high minors in 2021.
During Covid he figured out how to take a BB.
He forgot again in 2022. Especially in the bigs.
He swung at everything.
No doubt robo umps helped him last year.
Would love the Mariners to grab him on minors contract
They have Diego Castillo at home.
@Tizzi60 Why not? The Mariners already have at least 37 middling infielders. What’s one more?
Po Boy will probably sign him, he loves to collect infielders.
Take that Dodgers!
Meet your new Mets backup IFer.
Actually he’s a pretty decent player who keeps getting lost in the shuffle…could be a solid utility guy for someone.
Thought he would play a decent role for AZ last year. Hate to see him go and still have Jace on the roster.