Phillies claim potential utility man on waivers; fill out 40-man roster

The Philadelphia Phillies announced Monday that they have claimed potential utility man Diego Castillo off of waivers from the New York Yankees, filling out the final spot on their 40-man roster.

Castillo appeared in just one game at the MLB level a year ago for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but hit .313 with three home runs, 72 RBIs, 13 stolen bases and 97 walks for Triple-A Reno. Even without a ton of power output, Castillo posted an impressive .841 OPS.

He also flashed some defensive flexibility, which is important for any potential organizational depth piece to have. At Triple-A, Castillo saw time in left field, at second base, third base and shortstop.

Castillo’s most extended big-league action came with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022, when he slashed .206/.251/.382 with 11 home runs, 29 RBIs and a .633 OPS in 96 games.

Thus far, 2024 hasn’t proven to be a very stable year for Castillo. The 26-year-old was designated for assignment in December by the Diamondbacks, and ultimately claimed by the New York Mets on Jan. 5. His time with the Mets organization was very brief, as he was designated for assignment and claimed on waivers by the Yankees on Jan. 19. And the Phillies will now serve as the fourth organization Castillo has been a part of this offseason.

Claiming Castillo and filling out the 40-man roster doesn’t necessarily mean the Phillies are done making moves this offseason. They had an open spot, so there really wasn’t much to lose by claiming him on waivers. If the Phillies ultimately sign a veteran reliever or outfielder, it wouldn’t be especially hard to clear a 40-man spot for said signee. The Phillies could DFA Castillo. Or maybe the Phillies would keep Castillo and designate Rodolfo Castro for assignment. Other players currently on the 40-man roster that the Phillies could theoretically consider trading to clear a spot(s) before Opening Day are Kody Clemens, Darick Hall, Simón Muzziotti, Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon and Dylan Covey.

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