NEWSLETTER
At last check, it was reasonable to assume that the Chicago Cubs are working on dealing catcher Welington Castillo, and it was also reported that the Diamondbacks were checking in on Castillo.
So, it’s not illogical to read this piece from Nick Piecoro and consider that one of the catchers being discussed by D-backs GM Dave Stewart is Castillo.
“We’ve not made a whole lot of headway in that area yet,” Stewart told Piecoro about acquiring a catcher. “Without really giving up something that’s going to cost us a player that we don’t want to give away, we don’t have a whole lot of motion yet.”
Stewart added that teams were asking for the Diamondbacks’ top young players because they are trying to take advantage of the perceived catching weakness (but that he is comfortable with the team not having a strong offensive catcher). I’m not sure what other quality catchers are available on the trade market right now besides Castillo and Dioner Navarro (Carlos Ruiz?), and obviously “top” young players can mean different things to different folks.
If Stewart was referencing the Cubs, then I certainly have no quarrel with the front office shooting high in early talks on Castillo given his age, low cost, offensive upside, and how little else is available out there. You wouldn’t really expect them to approach things any differently for now. I still like the fit between the Cubs and the Diamondbacks’ young outfield group, for what that’s worth, and there’s still plenty of time.
For all we know, Stewart wasn’t referencing the Cubs and Castillo anyway. All we know for sure is that a team that needs a catcher doesn’t like the prices out there associated with acquiring a good one. That’s to be expected.
