Former Padres Pitcher Signs MiLB Deal With NL West Rival

Some movement on the free agent front.

Former San Diego Padres pitcher Jose Castillo has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Tim Dierkes of MLBTradeRumors.com.

Lefty Jose Castillo, formerly of the Padres, has a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks with an invitation to MLB camp.

— timdierkes (@timdierkes) November 27, 2023

Castillo made his Major League debut with the Padres in 2018, appearing in relief in 37 games and holding a 3.29 ERA. Injuries have plagued Castillo's progression as he has only appeared in three Major League games since, giving up five runs between two total innings.

Castillo struggled in Triple-A in 2023, with a 9.82 ERA across 22 appearances before being designated for assignment in July. The Miami Marlins picked him up for cash and he appeared in 14 Triple-A appearances, faring slightly better with a 5.59 ERA.

Castillo will look to return to his 2018 form as he tries out for a roster spot on a team looking to return to the World Series following a 2023 campaign that saw the Diamondbacks heavily outperform expectations.

Because Castillo has just over four years of service time, he could be retained beyond 2024 via arbitration if the Diamondbacks are impressed with what they see at camp.

We wish Castillo the best as he heads to Arizona, and hope he can regain some of his form and return to the majors.