Cubs swap catcher Castillo for Seattle pitching prospect
The Cubs solved their three-catcher problem Tuesday morning by trading Welington Castillo to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitcher Yoervis Medina.
The 26-year-old Medina will report to the Cubs' Class AAA Iowa affiliate. In 12 games for the Mariners this season, he was 1-0 with 1 save, a 3.00 ERA and a WHIP of 1.50.
Castillo, 28, was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2004. He currently was sharing playing time with catchers Miguel Montero and David Ross, both of whom were acquired this past off-season.
This year, Castillo was batting .163 with 2 homers. He hit 13 home runs for the Cubs last season.
The Cubs likely will announce a roster replacement for Castillo before Tuesday night's game at San Diego. They'll also recall outfielder Junior Lake from Iowa and activate left-handed pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada off the disabled list. Wada will start Wednesday night.
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