Nats sign veteran catcher Castillo to minor league deal

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

January 24, 2020, 11:43am

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The Nationals have signed catcher Welington Castillo to a minor league deal, giving themselves another veteran behind the plate, where their depth was a bit thin.

Castillo, whose signing was confirmed by a source familiar with the deal, has been a big league regular since 2013 with the Cubs, Mariners, Diamondbacks, Orioles and White Sox. The 32-year-old is a career .254 hitter with 98 homers, 339 RBIs, a .313 on-base percentage and .738 OPS in 726 games.

Castillo struggled last season with the White Sox, batting only .209 with 12 homers, 49 RBIs and a .684 OPS in 251 plate appearances. He made two short stints on the injured list, once with a concussion, once with a strained oblique muscle.

The Nationals already return their productive catching tandem from last season in Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes, but their depth at the position included no veterans. Prospects Tres Barrera and Raudy Read both remain on the 40-man roster, but Spencer Kieboom is no longer with the organization.

Castillo will get an invitation to big league camp, but something would need to happen to Suzuki or Gomes for him to make the opening day roster. If he reports to Triple-A Fresno or Double-A Harrisburg, though, the Nats would have an experienced catcher ready for promotion if the need arises.

Castillo's signing was first reported by MLB.com and NBC Sports Washington.