The Philadelphia Phillies have signed 2nd baseman Luis Castillo to a minor-league deal.
The 35-year-old second baseman was released by the New York Mets on Saturday and quickly signed with the division rival Phillies after clearing waivers at 1pm on Sunday afternoon.
Philadelphia has a void at 2nd base with perennial All Star Chase Utley sidelined due to patella tendinitis and chondromalacia in his knee. Utley has yet to play this spring and there is currently no timetable set for his return.
Castillo, a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, struggled last season, hitting .235 with a .337 on base percentage, and .267 slugging percentage. But he was plagued with foot injuries that limited him to just 86 games.
The switch hitting veteran posted a .604 OPS in 2011, which ranked 291st among 305 players with at least 250 plate appearances in the majors last year.
However Castillo is just one year removed from a season in which he hit .302 with a .387 on base percentage and converted 20 of 26 stolen base attempts while playing in 142 games.
From 1999-2009 Castillo hit .298 with a .375 on base percentage and .362 slugging percentage and averaged 36 steals and 99 runs scored every 162 games.
Castillo will compete with Wilson Valdez, Pete Orr, Josh Barfield, Delwyn Young, and Rule V pick Michael Martinez for the vacant 2nd base spot.
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