ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Diamondbacks make 3 moves official prior to Sunday’s Winter Meetings
Dec 2, 2022, 4:03 PM
Ali Sanchez #41 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a double in the seventh inning of the Spring Training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park on March 27, 2022 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
(Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced three separate moves on Friday as rumors have swirled prior to the start of Winter Meetings on Sunday.
Arizona signed former Yankees reliever Miguel Castro, claimed catcher Ali Sanchez from Pirates and designated pitcher Sean Poppen for assignment.
Castro agreed to a one-year deal with a 2024 option to add depth to the D-backs’ bullpen.
The New York reliever posted a 4.03 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 34 games, striking out 31 batters in route to a 5-0 record last season.
The 27-year-old has a 4.12 ERA with 1.41 WHIP in eight seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets and Yankees.
Castro saw his best year in 2021 with the Mets, making 69 appearances with a 3.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 77 strikeouts.
Castro posted a career-high 3.84 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) in 2022 while maintaining 9.62 strikeouts per nine innings, 47.5% ground ball percentage and 4.66 walks per nine innings.
Sanchez has had limited experience in the major leagues despite nine seasons across all level in baseball.
He has only played in seven games in the majors in two years with the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. He has three hits in 13 ABs (.231).
Poppen had an up-and-down 49 games played over two seasons with Arizona, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.435 WHIP, 8.4 strikeouts per nine and a 4.39 FIP.
He was claimed by the San Diego Padres on Friday.
