The Phillies made two transactions to begin the week, claiming utilityman Diego Castillo off waivers from the Yankees and trading cash considerations to the Cubs for right-handed reliever Michael Rucker.
There were 39 players on the Phillies' 40-man roster before the moves. Castillo and Rucker were added and reliever Andrew Bellatti was designated for assignment to free up the final spot.
The 26-year-old Castillo, not to be confused with the Rays/Mariners setup man by the same name, played 96 games with the 2022 Pirates. He had just one at-bat in 2023 with the Diamondbacks. He's hit .205/.250/.380 with 11 home runs and 13 doubles in 284 plate appearances. He owns a .296 career batting average and .410 on-base percentage in 177 games at Triple A and has played every position, getting his most work at shortstop.
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Rucker was DFA'd by the Cubs last week when they signed Hector Neris. He appeared in 76 games for Chicago the last two seasons, pitching to a 4.36 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 95 innings. He turns 30 in late April. Rucker throws six different pitches but was mostly fastball-cutter in 2023, throwing them a combined 66.2 percent of the time.
Importantly, Rucker has one minor-league option remaining, which means he can be sent to the minors without being passed through waivers.
Bellatti, who is out of minor-league options, has been with the Phillies since November 2021. He was one of their most surprising contributors in 2022 with a 3.31 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 54⅓ innings. Last season didn't go nearly as well. Bellatti dealt with a triceps injury in April and May and made as many appearances in Triple A as he did the majors, ultimately finishing with a 5.11 ERA. He can become a free agent if no team claims him on waivers.