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MLB Trade Deadline: 5 moves Orioles should make

By Joshua Sadlock

BOSTON, MA - MAY 3: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 3, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 3: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 3, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – JUNE 27: Welington Castillo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles chases a pitch that got away but Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays could not score on the play from third base in the sixth inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on June 27, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 27: Welington Castillo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles chases a pitch that got away but Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays could not score on the play from third base in the sixth inning during MLB game action at Rogers Centre on June 27, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

4. Trade Welington Castillo to whoever will have him

In seeking their replacement for All-Star catcher Matt Wieters, the Orioles were the one team willing to overlook all of the defensive deficiencies that came with Welington Castillo, one of the worst pitch framers in the game. Castillo signed a one-year deal with the Orioles for $6 million with a player option for 2018 that will most likely go unused.

Castillo has been perfectly fine with the bat, hitting .258/.300/.424 with nine home runs. Behind the plate, he has thrown out close to 50 percent of stolen base attempts, but is still a negative overall because his pitch framing has been so abysmal. Backup catcher Caleb Joseph is having a solid year and has bounced back nicely after failing to drive in a single run last year in 141 plate appearances. Joseph has actually been worth 1.5 bWAR to Castillo’s 0.5.

Joseph has caught roughly 300 fewer plate appearances this year than Castillo, but Orioles pitchers have a 4.36 ERA with him behind the plate. Compare that to 5.99 with Castillo. That is a massively meaningful difference. Joseph is more familiar with Orioles pitchers, calls a better game and frames strikes significantly better. He has been the best catcher for the Orioles this year and is being rewarded with more playing time every week.

There is not expected to be a huge market for catchers among contending teams, but the Orioles should try and find someone to rent Castillo for the rest of the season. Joseph has shown he is capable of starting every day and top prospect Chance Sisco is ready for his MLB debut.

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