The Dodgers claimed Baxter, 28, off waivers from the Mets. This is an all-important roster move in October.
No it isn't.
While I think Castellanos should get a chance to be a fourth- or (more likely) a fifth-outfielder in the majors, it won't come with the Dodgers. Castellanos has produced in Triple-A, but he's played in one of the most hitter-friendly environments around, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.
Castellanos, 27, is an all-bat player with a really good arm. He was unsuccessful in trying to play second- and third base for the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2012 and 2013. He got his feet wet in the majors, going 7-for-41 (.171) with a couple home runs and 13 strikeouts. If he isn't hitting, he's a career minor-leaguer. That's probably the safest bet at this rate.
His minor-league numbers have yet to come close to translating to the majors due to lack of opportunity and, more likely, a lack of overall skill. Despite that, I'd be surprised if another team doesn't pick him up.
Baxter isn't much of a player, posting a .229/.335/.348 triple slash in 415 plate appearances spread over four seasons. He actually made his Major League debut against the Dodgers in 2010 with the Padres. He was San Diego's fourth-round draft pick in 2005.
I'd be surprised if Baxter is still on the 40-man roster come February or March. Then again, I thought Matt Angle would have been gone long before he actually was, so Baxter has a better chance of sticking than it may seem.
He's really not any better than, say, Nick Buss right now, whom the Dodgers already have. This is probably just a procedural move because Castellanos was likely to be outrighted this winter anyway.
So, there's the roster update. Now about the Game 6 in St. Louis... more on that tomorrow.
Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue
Is Jared going to be ok? His boy is gone.
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