The Yankees announced that they have claimed left-hander Matt Gage off waivers, a move which was reported on earlier today. Infielder/outfielder Diego Castillo was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Castillo, 26, has had his name on many transactions over the past few years. An amateur signing of the Yankees, he was traded to the Pirates as part of the 2021 Clay Holmes deal. He was traded to the Diamondbacks after the 2022 season and spent the 2023 campaign with that club. But he was designated for assignment last month, going to the Mets and then Yankees on waiver claims. Now he’s been designated for assignment for the third time in just over a month.
He doesn’t have a ton of power but generally fares well at the plate apart from that. Last year, he took 556 trips to the plate at Triple-A, hitting just three home runs. But he drew walks in 17.4% of those plate appearances while striking out at just a 14.2% clip. His .313/.431/.410 batting line translated to a 117 wRC+, indicating he was 17% better than league average overall. His work in the majors hasn’t been as impressive, with Castillo hitting .205/.250/.380 in his 284 plate appearances for a wRC+ of 71.
Defensively, Castillo is capable of moving around quite a bit. He’s spent time at all four infield positions, the outfield corners and has even made a couple of mop-up appearances on the mound. He also has a bit of speed, having stolen 13 bases in Triple-A last year, the third time he’s reached double digits in the minors.
This winter, it seems he has fallen into a bucket of being just good enough to intrigue clubs but not quite good enough to hold a roster spot for very long. The Yanks will now have one week to trade him or pass him through waivers. He still has one option remaining. Between that, his plate discipline and defensive versatility, he may find himself on the move yet again in the coming days. If he were to pass through waivers unclaimed, he would stick with the Yankees as non-roster depth. He doesn’t have three years of MLB service time or a previous career outright, meaning he wouldn’t have the right to elect free agency.
It would be in Castillo’s best interest to be claimed off waivers by another team.
The Yankees have a full infield and even Jeter Downs doesn’t have an opening as is, so best of luck to him.
No room on the Yankees, which is a good problem to have, depth is always good.
Go Diego go!!!
It would be in my best interest to be claimed by a team as well.
Some whiplash claims and DFAs happening
He could be a late bloomer, but I bet NPB and KBO have checked in with his agent
He’s not a free agent. I think there are agreements between MLB and NPB/KBO regarding signing of non-FAs, since it would apply in both directions.
There’s always that one player every off-season who gets passed around like hot potato. Started the year with Arizona, got claimed by the Mets, then again by the Yankees, got DFAd again and will probably get claimed by a fourth team.
The Sandy Rosario Factor.
I remember last off-season when Lewin Diaz went from the Marlins to the Pirates, then to the Orioles, the Braves, and returning to Baltimore.
Alfonso Rivas is experiencing a similar offseason.
Honestly he’d be a nice fit here. Let’s not pretend our AAA depth is any better than Castillo.
I never get being designated for assignment before the minor league season starts.
It sounds like bouncer speak ”You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here”
40 man roster turnover. Someone needs to go if you claim another guy.
He’ll be in Oakland by Wednesday
It seems odd that this entire post is about the guy who got cut, not the player claimed.
I now see the prior post on Gage. Makes more sense.
Seems like everyday the Yankees sign and cut someone. MLB expand rosters to 45 players.
Just rattling the trash cans by Hal and Trashman…a marketing move…except the Stadium was only 75% to occupancy. They lost 67 million in ticket sales..
How in the world are there so many Diego Castillo’s in the MLB?
Two. There are two Diego Castillos. This one just makes a lot of news by not being good enough to stick on anyone’s roster, but being good enough to almost stick.
I don’t doubt you, but it almost does seem like there’s a half dozen or so Diego Castillos.
Welp, from hello again to seeya!
Diego, Swiper says no swiping
Downs didn’t get claimed neither will Castillo. Welcome to Scranton Wilkes-Barre.
I wished Yankees kept Bubba Thompson. His defense and speed always needed.
Diego Castillo had himself a 1997 Nintendo stat line last year at triple-a. An old-timey scrapper who fouls 15-20 pitches off a game.