The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with catcher Welington Castillo on a two-year, $15-million contract, which includes a club option for 2020. Under terms of the deal, Castillo, 30, will receive $7.25 million in both 2018 and 2019, while the White Sox hold an $8-million option for 2020 with a $500,000 buyout.
Castillo batted .282 (96-341) with 20 home runs, 53 RBI, 44 runs scored and a .490 slugging percentage last season, his first with Baltimore. He led all major league catchers by throwing out 44.4 percent (20-45) of attempted baserunners, and ranked second among American League catchers in average and fourth in homers and slugging.
Castillo also batted .344 (32-93) with a .570 slugging percentage vs. left-handers last season, .308 (20-65) with runners in scoring position and .313 (46-147) after the All-Star Break.
"Adding Welington benefits us both in the short and long term," said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. "He has been one of the more productive catchers over the last several seasons, and we believe his presence will have a lasting positive effect on our younger pitchers and catchers as they continue their development at the major-league level."
The 5-10, 220-pound Castillo, a native of San Isidro, Dominican Republic, is a career .259 (534-2,062) hitter with 107 doubles, 80 home runs, 283 RBI and 215 runs scored in 605 games over eight major-league seasons with the Cubs (2010-15), Seattle (2015), Arizona (2015-16) and the Orioles (2017). He has thrown out 29.4 percent (108-367) of attempted basestealers over his career.
Castillo originally was signed by the Cubs as a free agent on December 8, 2004.
White Sox agree to terms with Wellington Castillo
Castillo, 30, will receive $7.25 million in both 2018 and 2019, while the White Sox hold an $8-million option for 2020 with a $500,000 buyout.
December 1st, 2017