Alberto

Castillo

Castillo might be John Buck’s backup if Benito Santiago is traded. Ideally, he’d be insurance in Triple-A.

Interesting. Either Castillo did something wrong off the field or GM Allard Baird simply wanted him to go away so that manager Buddy Bell would stop playing him over John Buck. Paul Phillips likely will be called up tomorrow to take over as Buck’s backup. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Castillo join the Giants soon after he clears waivers.

Trey Lunsford is on the DL at Fresno, so Castillo will back up Yorvit Torrealba until Benito Santiago is ready to play.

Rather than go to one of their younger catchers, the A’s signed Castillo last week and promised him a roster spot this month. The Royals cut Castillo after he hit .210/.292/.310 in 100 AB.

Castillo homered to help the Orioles beat the Padres on Thursday, but the O’s still weren’t going to keep him over Paul Bako. Maybe the Giants will grab him as an upgrade to Guillermo Rodriguez.

Castillo went 4-for-23 during Ramon Hernandez’s first DL stint. He’ll share time with Paul Bako until Hernandez returns.

It’s hard to believe, but the Giants apparently are going to waste a 40-man roster spot on Castillo all winter long. The light-hitting veteran likely will back up Yorvit Torrealba next season.

Castillo was briefly needed as a backup catcher last July. Why the Giants chose to keep him on the 40-man roster for an additional seven months is one of those mysteries that may never be solved.

Castillo will back up Mike Tonis for Triple-A Omaha.