Orioles welcome Castillo as they part with Wieters

New Orioles catcher Welington Castillo knows that he's going to contribute offensively next season, knows that there's run-producing potential up and down the lineup. Most important, he understands that he must satisfy the team with his work behind the plate.

During this morning's conference call with the local media, Castillo said that he's headed to Puerto Rico to work with former major league catcher Jose Molina on his pitch framing. It's one area that screams for improvement and Castillo is listening.

Castillo passed his physical and signed a one-year, $6 million contract that includes a $7 million player option for 2018. It also spelled the end of Matt Wieters' career in Baltimore.

"We liked Welington, we liked what he did the last few years and we like what he does going forward," said executive vice president Dan Duquette. "We took a long look at comparing all the catchers who were available on the market and we liked Welington's skills, particularly what he's done the last couple of years and our projections look good on Welington. So we like Welington to fit on our team.

"As far as Matt Wieters goes, Matt did a good job for the club, he was a high draft pick and he came up through the system and he worked very hard and gave us terrific service, and we wish him well. But for our ballclub, we felt Welington was the best fit on the market."

Manager Buck Showalter said he received a Christmas card yesterday from the Wieters family. It's hard to say goodbye.

"I think it is for everybody," Showalter said. "Anytime you're around somebody as much as we are, probably more than anybody, you get to know a person and his family, his kids. As many great things as Matt did for us, there were a lot of great things that the organization and the city did for him and his family, too. I try to keep that in mind. It was a great relationship for everybody and I think everybody benefited from it.

"You never say never. The game has a way of having your paths cross. There's a baseball part of it and there's a personal part of it. I remember the first conversation I had with Matt when I got here about taking the next step and he did and he's been compensated well for what he's given, but it wasn't about that with Matt. But this is about Welington.

"We're excited about him joining us. A lot of times you hear me talk about those guys 28-32 who start to figure out things. I think Welington fits into that category. He's a young, strong, athletic, healthy guy and we're lucky that we were able to work it out, but Matt will do well and I'm proud what our city and the organization did with Matt and we wish well."

Castillo doesn't grade out favorably with his pitch framing. He had 10 passed balls this summer to go with seven errors and was behind the plate for 42 wild pitches. But he doesn't want to be defined by the numbers.

"I feel like I'm pretty good defensively, but I know my weaknesses, my pitching framing, and I'm going to be working on it with Jose Molina in Puerto Rico because I know myself and I never like to stop improving," Castillo said.

"I'm going to be working on it. I don't feel like I'm a bad defensive catcher. But do I need to get better at it? Yes. Every day there's something to get better at and that's the kind of guy I am. I like to move forward and learn and just try everything to make myself better."

Castillo had to move on after the Diamondbacks non-tendered him.

"It wasn't easy," he said. "It came as a surprise when the Diamondbacks non-tendered me, but I know I believe in myself and I believe in my agents that they're going to find me a new home.

"I signed with the Orioles and that's what I'm looking forward to is winning. That's all I care about and I'm going to do my best and try to do everything I can to make this team even better than it's already been. Now it's a new day and I'm really happy to be here with the Orioles."

There was plenty of competition for his services and the Orioles took the necessary step of adding the player option for 2018.

"It sounded to me like Welington had some other options from some other teams that were interested in him based on his strong year this past season," Duquette said.

"We were trying to find a solution. We weren't looking for a long-term deal. By that I mean over two years. We were looking for a shorter-term deal to give the club a little bit of time to evaluate some of our own people internally and develop some of the people we have in our organization like Caleb Joseph and (Francisco) Pena and also Chance Sisco.

"I think in listening to the players' agent, this was an attractive option for him because it gives him all the incentive in the world to have a terrific year in 2017, but it also gives him some comfort knowing that he could extend it to a second year in 2018, and the terms were acceptable to the club. That wasn't our first option, but the terms were acceptable and I think this will work out fine for both parties."

Castillo said the Orioles were his "first choice."

"It's a great team with a lot of great players," he said. "I've been hearing a lot of good things about Buck Showalter. And I want to win here. This is a team that's been in the playoffs and I think this team is going to be a competitor, going to be competing in the league, so I want to be part of it when this team is going to be a champion. I want to win a championship with the Orioles."

Said Showalter: "Welington's always been a guy who's got a reputation for getting along well with his teammates. He really wants to please. He's a good thrower, a guy who cares about the pitching staff, to be a catcher for everybody. He's an offensive threat. Especially in our league and our division, it's tough to have situations where there's guys that are having challenges in your batting order.

"The first priority obviously was catching and we think he has the potential to help us with that. We have some other good options, but obviously we wouldn't be here today talking about Welington if we didn't feel like he could ...

"He's a guy who's been durable, he's been healthy, knock on wood, and that's hard to do in the job that he does. He's a very physical guy. You can tell that he brings a lot of energy. He's a guy who likes to play. There was a lot of competition for Welington's skills and I'm real proud that we were able to figure out a way to help him join the Orioles."

Duquette has more work to do, of course, with a vacancy in right field and perhaps at designated hitter. He's trying to work out a deal to re-sign Mark Trumbo, but talks aren't progressing.

Castillo represents the Orioles' first significant signing, more than just a depth move.

"Welington's been one of the top catchers in the National League for the last couple years," Duquette said. "He's been one of the top three or four catchers in terms of his offensive production. He's got an excellent arm and last year he threw out an above-average number of base stealers. He's also hit for average and hit for power and shown the capability to drive in runs. He's had a couple really good defensive years.

"He gives us a veteran catcher with a lot of experience and good offensive capability, and he's a good complement to the catchers that we have, including Caleb Joseph, and with his experience he should be able to help us solidify the team and stabilize the ballclub with his throwing, his catching ability, his hitting and his power. We're glad to have him. It was a key addition for our club. It was something we were looking for and we're glad to sign Welington and have him in the fold."