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The Royals announced today their previously-reported deal with outfielder , signing him to a one-year contract with a player option for 2025. In a corresponding move, right-hander has been designated for a signment. Castillo, 24, was one of two prospects acquired in the 2022 trade that sent from Kansas City to Toronto. (Infielder/outfielder was the other.) Castillo has logged big league time in each of the past two seasons, pitching to a combined 5.43 ERA in 59 2/3 frames. Castillo has punched out a below-average 18.1% of his opponents against a higher-than average 9.3% walk rate. Castillo was quite homer-prone in 2022 but yielded just two long balls in 20 1/3 innings this past season (0.89 HR/9). However, his strikeout rate plummeted from 21.8% in 22 to just 11.2% this past season as he greatly upped the usage of his slider at the expense Yohan Ramirez Jersey of his four-seamer and changeup. In parts of two Triple-A seasons, Castillo has posted a 4.43 ERA in 164 2/3 innings, showing solid command but below-average strikeout abilities in that time. As a prospect, he was viewed as a potential fifth starter or reliever. Its po sible that another club could yet help him reach that level, but the Royals aggre sive offseason on the free agent market is clear proof that theyre ready to turn the page on some of the in-house options in whom theyd previously been holding out hope. Castillo still has a minor league option remaining and wont turn 25 until May, so he could hold some appeal to another club looking for pitching depth one that hasnt overhauled its roster by signing six free agents to big league deals and acquiring a seventh ( ) via trade. Presumably, the Royals explored potential trades of Castillo before todays DFA, as theyd previously moved , and in DFA-motivated trades. But another club could still be interested in a waiver claim or perhaps a cash swap if that hadnt been on the table before. Nabil Crismatt Jersey