The Baltimore Wire
Fansided

AL East Rankings: Does Wieters departure hurt the Baltimore Orioles?

By Nate Wardle

Sep 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Wellington Castillo (7) in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Wellington Castillo (7) in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Baltimore Orioles schedule
Feb 20, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Welington Castillo (29) pose for a photo during photo day at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Baltimore Orioles

Orioles’ Catchers: Welington Castillo, Caleb Joseph, Chance Sisco, Francisco Pena

The Baltimore Orioles moved on from Matt Wieters, instead choosing to invest less money at the position and sign Welington Castillo. Castillo has never played more than 115 games in a season, but Caleb Joseph has experience in handling some games behind the plate.

Castillo hit .264/.322/.423 in 2016 with 14 HRs, 24 2Bs, 68 RBIs and 41 runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks, before being non-tendered in the offseason. Castillo is a career .255/.318/.416 hitter, playing all but a few games in the National League.

Castillo has rated above 1.0 in dWAR in three of his four main seasons. 2015 was a disaster for Castillo, but in 2016 his dWAR was 1.4, 2014 was 1.2 and 2013 was 2.4. As a good hitter, his overall WAR in 2016 was 2.4. However, the fielding percentage and range from Castillo is not exactly stellar, something the Orioles have been working on already before he heads to the World Baseball Classic.

Joseph famously did not get a RBI last season but also suffered a gruesome testicular injury. He has shown success as a hitter before, and also rates positively defensively, even better than Wieters did at times.

Sisco is the catcher of the future, and it will be interesting to see if he can hit his way into the majors. With the investment in Castillo, it is doubtful, but Cisco has hit at every stop of his career. However, his glove is not quite where the team would like it to be, so that will be his focus in the minor leagues.

Home/Baltimore Orioles