Astros rumors: Catcher Jason Castro returning to Houston on 2-year deal
By Phil Watson
Astros rumors have Jason Castro returning to Houston
The latest Houston Astros rumors have the team reuniting with a former All-Star catcher, with Jason Castro reportedly agreeing to a two-year, $7 million deal to rejoin the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft.
The Astros had a need for an experienced backup to 34-year-old starter Martin Maldonado after Dustin Garneau, last year’s No. 2 behind the plate, signed with the Detroit Tigers in late December as a free agent.
Castro broke into the majors with Houston in 2010, starting 57 games after his June callup, but then was out the entire 2011 season after injuring his knee in spring training. Castro did return to participate in the Arizona Fall League and was back in Houston for good the following season.
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Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the agreement, with Bob Nightengale of USA Today later confirming the terms of the deal. ESPN independently confirmed the details as well.
He was selected as an All-Star in 2013 — albeit for a team that finished 51-111 because, hey, someone had to go. But that was the best offensive season of Castro’s career, as he hit .276/.350/.485 in 120 games and 491 plate appearances, notching 35 doubles and 18 home runs — all career highs.
He left the Astros following the 2016 season, signing a two-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. He signed with the Los Angeles Angels last January and was traded to the San Diego Padres at the Aug. 31 deadline.
Castro struggled at the plate during the shortened 2020 season, hitting .188/.293/.375 in 27 games and 92 plate appearances for the Angels and Padres, although 11 of his 15 hits were for extra bases (nine doubles and two home runs).
For his career, Castro is a .230/.312/.390 hitter in 852 games and 3,114 plate appearances, with 88 career home runs and 876 strikeouts. But he has long been complimented for his ability as a receiver, both in framing and blocking pitches.
Castro made just one appearance in the playoffs for the Padres last fall, starting Game 3 of their NLDS loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded in his lone plate appearance in the second inning before he was lifted in favor of Austin Nola to start the fifth inning.
In 2015, Castro started all six games for the Astros, their Wild-Card Game win over the New York Yankees in the Bronx and Houston’s five-game loss to the eventual World Champion Kansas City Royals in the ALDS, a series in which the Astros had a 2-1 lead.
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He was just 1-for-16 with eight strikeouts and two walks in the 2015 postseason. He also started the Wild-Card Game for the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium in 2017, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of Minnesota’s 8-4 loss.