Former Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo signs a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals
Former Red Sox outfielder Rusney Castillo has signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals, per the team’s transactions log. Castillo will likely begin the start of 2022 season with Triple-A Rochester and provide the organization with outfield depth.
Castillo spent the 2021 season in Japan playing for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. In 33 games with the Golden Eagles, the former Sox’ outfielder hit .225 with one double, one home run, three RBIs over 76 plate appearances.
The former PawSox fan favorite inked a lucrative seven-year, $72.5 million deal with the Red Sox back in 2014. Castillo ended up being one of the biggest busts in recent memory.
After getting an opportunity with the Red Sox in September of 2014, Castillo hit .333 with two home runs and six RBIs over the course of 10 games.
The following season, Castillo played 80 games with Boston. He would hit .253 with five home runs, 29 RBIs, four stolen bases while scoring 35 runs.
The Cuban outfielder only played in nine games during the 2016 season. Midway into the 2016 season, Castillo was outrighted off the Red Sox 40-man roster after he cleared waivers.
Unfortunately for Castillo, he would play out the remainder of his massive contract with Triple-A Pawtucket. Even though Castillo provided production at the Triple-A level for the PawSox, it was not enough to include him in the Red Sox big-league roster plans. Over the course of his short major-league tenure, he hit .262 with seven homers, 12 doubles, two triples while knocking in 35 RBIs.
Castillo will look for an opportunity with the Nationals and attempt to crack their big-league roster. The 34-year-old will provide depth but only time will tell whether or not he will land with the Nationals this upcoming season.
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