Phillies sign 2nd baseman Luis Castillo

[March 22, 2011]  CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) -- The Philadelphia Phillies signed three-time All-Star second baseman Luis Castillo to a minor league contract on Monday.

Castillo will report to camp as a non-roster player and compete for playing time while five-time All-Star Chase Utley recovers from a right knee injury.

Castillo is a career .290 hitter in 15 seasons with the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins and Florida Marlins. He hit .235 with Mets in 2010, but was limited to just 86 games because of a right heel injury.

Castillo was released Friday by the Mets. He is in the final season of a four-year, $25 million contract.

"I think a change will be good for him, I respect him as a player," said Phillies catcher Brian Schneider, who played with Castillo in New York. "He's been in the game a long time and he's done a lot of great things. I think this is a good opportunity for him with what's going on here."

Castillo is in the final season of a four-year, $25 million contract. The Mets are responsible for most of the $6 million remaining on the deal, with the Phillies having to pay Castillo the major-league minimum of $414,000 if he's added to the roster.

[Associated Press]

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