Padres acquire Jason Castro from Angels
The San Diego Padres are going all-in to try to snap their postseason drought.
San Diego, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2006, acquired veteran catcher Jason Castro from the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Gerardo Reyes, the Padres announced Sunday.
Castro joined the Angels on a one-year, $6.85-million contract this past winter. The 33-year-old slashed .192/.323/.385 with two homers and six RBIs while playing stellar defense behind the plate in 18 games for the Halos.
A 10-year MLB veteran, Castro has produced a .703 OPS with 88 homers over his career and had an All-Star season with the Houston Astros in 2013. He's regarded as a solid defensive catcher with elite pitch-framing skills.
Castro will share catching duties in San Diego with Austin Hedges and fellow new acquisition Austin Nola, while providing additional depth at the position. The Padres are currently missing regular backstop Francisco Mejia, who is on the injured list with a thumb injury.
Padres catchers have combined to post a meager 45 wRC+ and minus-0.3 WAR this year, good for the fifth-lowest production in the league at the position, according to FanGraphs.
Reyes, who is heading north to the Angels, has spent his entire 2020 season at the Padres' alternate training site. The 27-year-old made his MLB debut last year and put up a 7.62 ERA, 3.41 FIP, and 1.35 WHIP, with 38 strikeouts and 11 walks across 27 relief appearances for the Friars in 2019.