The list came out and Rusney Castillo's name wasn't on it. It wasn't a surprise.
When the Red Sox released the 47 names who would make up their initial wave of players to participate in Spring Training 2.0 Castillo didn't make the cut for obvious reasons. Because of his contract and the implications -- even in a shortened season -- a promotion to the big league club would be too much of a hit to the club's luxury tax threshold. The 32-year-old didn't have a chance. And if you're holding your breath that he might be one of the later additions, don't.
"It would be a tough fit," said one person in the know.
While we knew even a normal baseball season wasn't going to result in Castillo finding his way back to the major leagues, he was still going to be a member of the organization for one more year. He also was going to eclipse more than 500 games played for Triple-A Pawtucket, putting him only behind Chico Walker (665) and Sam Bowen (609).
But now no more Rusney.
"I understand that I have to go out and have the best year I can because it is a contract year for me," Castillo told WEEI.com through a translator in the first spring training. "Whatever happens afterwards, happens but I’m just preparing myself to hopefully get a chance to be up in the major leagues.
"I’m really just focused on this season. I’m focused on the present and whatever happens after I’m trying to get that contract. But what I’m more focused on is now and whatever comes after will get settled when it does."
So when Castillo hits free agency this coming offseason, his resume is locked in. It is a track record that is seven years of ups and downs Red Sox fans will not soon forget.
It started with that seven-year, $72.5 million contract signed with the Red Sox in 2014. While he managed to see 10 major league games that season it was clear Castillo was a work in progress, really not exhibiting one feature which made him stand out. Some behind the scenes wanted to compare his end-game to Shane Victorino (a comp the former All-Star rightfully bristled at), but that image never came close.
(The perception was that the Red Sox' aggressiveness when it came to signing Castillo was due to narrowly missing out on fellow Cuban Jose Abreu the year before.)
Heading into 2015 Castillo was actually on fairly even-footing with Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. in terms of finding a spot in the Red Sox' lineup. But that was short-lived with the righty hitter playing in just 80 games with the Red Sox and another 40 with the PawSox. He still failed to distinguish himself, hitting .253 with a .647 OPS, five homers and four stolen bases in nine attempts.
Then came Dave Dombrowski. When it came to Castillo's time as a major leaguer in Boston, that was that.
The new Red Sox president of baseball operations had made a run at Castillo as the GM of Detroit, but clearly had little patience with the outfielder's offensive struggles while watching him with the Red Sox. So in June 2016 Castillo was sent down to the minors. He would never return.
To the outfielder's credit, his game did emerge into something many consider major league quality. That first full season with the PawSox in 2017 Castillo hit .314 with an .857 OPS, 15 homers and 14 steals in 16 tries. The following season he hit .319, with 2019 resulting in another solid campaign in Pawtucket (.278/.769/17 homers).
And when we did see him in a Red Sox uniform during those spring training stints, he usually impressed. The last we saw Castillo he was hitting .429 (12-for-28) with a .964 OPS during the 2020 Grapefruit League season.
But now? With no minor league season and no hope of participating in the rebooted Red Sox season, Castillo is left looking forward to his next stop.
It was an interesting run.