Cardinals sign Minor League pitcher Castro

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Cardinals did not remain completely quiet at this week's Winter Meetings, as they did add to their Triple-A depth by signing right-handed pitcher Angel Castro to a one-year contract on Wednesday.

Castro, who becomes the 37th player on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, projects to be a member of the Memphis rotation for the start of the 2014 season. He became a Minor League free agent this fall after spending last season pitching for the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque.

The 31-year-old Castro has never dented a Major League roster. He pitched professionally in Japan in 2012 and played in the Mexican League from 2010-11. Sandwiched around that has been a five-year Minor League career in which Castro made stops with four organizations. He has a combined 3.71 ERA in 160 games (67 starts).

Castro is currently pitching in the Dominican Winter League, where he is 4-3 with a 1.29 ERA.

"The thinking behind this was that he had been performing very well and we had the [roster] spot," general manager John Mozeliak said. "We just felt like he would give us added depth for Memphis."