Pittsburgh Pirates Trade Diego Castillo to Arizona Diamondbacks

A few days after designating him for assignment, utiltiy man Diego Castillo has been traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates

Earlier this week the Pittsburgh Pirates made their free agent signing of catcher Austin Hedges official. In order to make room for Hedges on the 40-man roster utility man Diego Castillo was designated for assignment.

When Castillo was designated for assignment it appeared likely that he would be claimed off waivers by another club. Guys who can play third base, shortstop, and second base, while being a plus defender at each, are often in hot commodity to help fill out rosters.

Well, Castillo did not even make it that far. The Arizona Diamondbacks have swung a trade to acquire Castillo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. In return for Castillo, the Pirates are receiving 24-year-old starting pitching prospect Scott Randall.

Randall was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 7th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. After being selected out of Sacramento State University, Randall pitched 19 innings in five appearances at the Low-A level in 2021. Randall posted a 0.47 ERA, 2.76 FIP, did not allow a home run, walked four batters, and struck out 23 in these 19 innings pitched.

Last season saw Randall make a big stride professional. Pitching at the High-A level, he logged 108.1 innings in 21 starts. Randall posted a 3.82 ERA, 4.25 FIP, 1.16 HR/9, walked 5.6% of batters faced and struck batters out at a 23.4% clip.

In his first taste of MLB action last season Castillo hit for a .206/.251/.382 slash line with 11 home runs in 283 plate appearacnes. He walked at just a 4.9% rate, struck out in 26.5% of his trips to the plate, and posted a 73 wRC+.

Randall's long-term future in the majors will likely be as a long reliever/swingman type. That said, he will likely begin the 2023 season in the starting rotation at Double-A Altoona as the Pirates will give him every opportuntiy to stick as a starting pitcher.