Catcher Welington Castillo joined teammates Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross this week as the Nationals' third player from their 60-man pool to opt out of playing the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, manager Davey Martinez said Friday.
"I talked to him and he decided that he wasn't going to come," Martinez said on a Zoom call after the team held its first practice at Nationals Park. "He's got two little kids and his wife in the Dominican [Republic]. I don't hold anything against those guys. They have family.
"I know Zimm, I love him to death. Joe, he's a big part of this organization. They all are. They chose to opt out, and we have guys that are here that we've got to focus on right now and get them ready for the 2020 season."
Castillo signed a minor-league deal in January with an invitation to spring training, where he was competing to be the Nationals' third option at catcher behind Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes. With the expanded rosters that teams will have to start the season, he would've had a good chance to be on the active roster for Opening Day had he decided to play.
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Outside of Suzuki and Gomes, the Nationals have three other catchers left in camp: Tres Barrera, Raudy Read and Jakson Reetz. Both Barrera and Read made brief stints as rookies with the Nationals in 2019, while Reetz finished last season at High-A Potomac before going 9-27 (.333) in the Arizona Fall League. All three catchers are 26 years old or under.
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General manager Mike Rizzo also announced that 2020 first-round pick Cade Cavalli has already joined the team in D.C. and will be added to Washington's player pool. Cavalli was selected 22nd overall in June and signed with the team two weeks ago. Though his signing bonus has not been made public, his draft slot was designated with a value of $ 3,027,000.
Cavalli will join fellow top Nationals pitching prospects Jackson Rutledge (2019 first-round pick) and Seth Romero (2017 first-round pick) as surprise members of the team's 60-man player pool, which currently has two slots available. Rizzo said that the team will leave those spots open in order to maintain roster flexibility moving forward.
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Nationals catcher Welington Castillo opts out as Cade Cavalli added to player pool originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
