20 Welington Castillo C

Castillo signed a one-year minor-league deal with the Nationals on Monday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Castillo will earn $950,000 if he makes the big-league roster. The veteran backstop signed a similar deal with the Nationals last offseason but wound up opting out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He owns a respectable .254/.313/.426 slash line over his decade-long big-league career but may not be suited for anything other than backup duties at this point, as his .209/.267/.417 line for the White Sox in 2019 suggests.

The Nationals placed Castillo (opt out) on the restricted list July 4.

Washington made the transaction official one day after manager Dave Martinez told the media that Castillo became the third player to sit out the 60-game season. Castillo joined the Nationals in January on a one-year deal, so he'll head to the open market at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign.

Manager Dave Martinez announced Friday that Castillo has opted out of the 2020 season, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Castillo is the third Nationals player to elect to sit out, joining Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross. Castillo was a non-roster invitee but had a decent chance of making the expanded Opening Day roster as the team's third catcher before choosing to forego the season.

Castillo (shoulder) is in the lineup for Saturday's split-squad game against the Marlins, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Castillo did not start a game between Feb. 28 and Friday, but he served as the DH in that game and is ready to get back behind the plate Saturday, so it appears he has put his shoulder injury behind him. He will continue his pursuit of a roster spot, but he faces an uphill battle with Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes ahead of him.

Castillo is dealing with a sore right shoulder, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Castillo was supposed to serve as the designated hitter for Saturday's game and catch Sunday, but his sore shoulder is limiting his availability. The exact severity of the injury is unclear, but it appears that the 32-year-old could be sidelined for the first few games of spring training.

Castillo signed with the Nationals as a non-roster invitee Friday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The 10-year veteran was largely unimpressive in 72 games for the White Sox last season, hitting .209/.267/.417 with 12 homers. His career 98 wRC+ is perfectly respectable for a catcher, though it likely doesn't reflect his current talent level heading into his age-33 season. The Nationals appear to be set at the catcher position with Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes both returning, so Castillo might wind up as nothing more than injury insurance.

Castillo was traded Thursday to the Rangers, who will decline his club option for 2020 and make him a free agent.

The 32-year-old struggled to find consistent playing time in 2019, hitting just .209/.267/.684 over 72 games. Given Castillo's lofty price tag and limited production, the Rangers are expected to exercise the catcher's buyout, which would make him a free agent, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Castillo went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Indians.

Castillo padded the White Sox's lead with his seventh-inning home run. He entered midgame as the designated hitter after Matt Skole was removed due to abdominal tightness. His playing time has taken hit over the final month of the season as the White Sox take a look at rookie Zack Collins, who started at catcher Wednesday and has served regularly as the DH during September.

Castillo went 1-for-5 with a homer and five RBI in Sunday's 11-10 loss to Seattle.

Castillo's fifth-inning grand slam gave the White Sox an 8-5 lead that would last until his bullpen's late-game meltdown. The 32-year-old catcher is up to 10 long balls with 35 RBI on the season.

Castillo went 3-for-5 a home run, two doubles, three RBI and two runs in a 7-1 victory against the Indians on Thursday.

The 32-year-old is struggling to stay above the Mendoza Line, but he does have four homers in the last 16 games, including two in his most recent four contests. Castillo isn't hot enough in other categories, though, to make him usable in most leagues. He is batting .209 with nine home runs, 10 RBI and 16 runs in 201 at-bats this season.

Castillo hit a three-run homer as a pinch hitter in a 10-7 loss to Atlanta on Friday.

With the White Sox down 6-2 in the seventh inning, Castillo closed the gap to one by driving a Luke Jackson fastball over the fence in left field, but it was as close as Chicago would get. Castillo has started only three of the last 11 games, and while the veteran catcher does have eight homers in 59 games this season, his .648 OPS will likely keep him stuck to the bench on most nights.

Castillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins.

He'll be on the bench for a second straight game while Matt Skole occupies the designated-hitter spot and James McCann starts behind the dish. Skole remains Castillo's primary competition for a spot in the everyday lineup, as McCann has cracked the starting nine at either catcher or DH for seven straight contests.

Castillo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Castillo will head to the bench after pounding out five hits -- four for extra bases -- while starting each of the past four games at either catcher or designated hitter. James McCann will work behind the plate while Jose Abreu handles DH duties in the series finale.

Castillo went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Angels.

Sparking a ninth-inning rally, Castillo turned the second pitch he saw into a home run off Hansel Robles to bring the White Sox within one. Unfortunately, the score would not come any closer as the Angels notched the win. It was Castillo's seventh long ball and eighth double over 52 games this season.

Castillo went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 13-9 win over the Astros.

Castillo has hit in five straight starts, going 8-for-20 with a home run and five RBI. He served as the designated hitter against left-hander Wade Miley. Castillo had been getting regular work as the DH when not catching, but he appears to have taken a back seat to the the left-handed hitting Matt Skole, who has been the White Sox's primary DH since being called up earlier this month.

Castillo is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

On the bench for the fourth time in six games, Castillo appears to have fallen behind Matt Skole on the depth chart at designated hitter. Since returning in mid-July following a one-month stint on the injured list, Castillo is slashing .188/.216/.313 across 15 games.

Castillo is not in Sunday's lineup against the A's.

He is hitting .313 with one home run in 16 at-bats this month. Matt Skole will start at first base while Jose Abreu starts at designated hitter.

Castillo is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Athletics.

Castillo is 4-for-10 with a double, home run and two RBI in his last two games, but he'll head to the bench for Friday's series opener. Matt Skole will serve as the designated hitter in his absence.

Castillo is not in the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Castillo went 2-for-5 with a solo homer in the first game of the day. James McCann will take over behind the plate for the nightcap.

The White Sox activated Castillo (personal) from the family medical emergency leave list ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Tigers. He'll start at catcher and bat fifth in the first game of the twin bill, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Chicago is technically labeling Castillo as its 26th man for the doubleheader, but the White Sox will keep him around as the No. 2 backstop behind James McCann and instead remove someone else from the active roster after the second game of the twin bill. Castillo was away from the White Sox for four days while tending to the family matter.