For the fourth time, Juan Castro is a Dodger. The Dodgers purchased the contract of the soon-to-be 39-year old middle infielder from Triple A Albuqerque on Friday, taking the place of Ivan DeJesus in the "infielder who won't play very often" spot on the 25-man roster. To make room on the 40-man, the Dodgers transferred Hector Gimenez, who is recovering from knee surgery, from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.
Castro missed a little over three weeks with an oblique injury, but came back last weekend to Albuquerque. He has played shortstop, second base, and third base this week, collecting five singles in 13 at-bats in four games for the Isotopes. He signed a minor league deal to return to the Dodgers on December 10 with a major league salary of $500,000. With 139 days remaining in the 183-day season, the Dodgers are on the hook for $379,781.42 for Castro's services.
Castro was signed as an amateur by the Dodgers in 1991, and was a Dodger from 1995-1999. He returned to the Dodgers in 2009, then came back briefly last season after some time in Philadelphia. Castro's .311 on-base percentage in 2009 with the Dodgers is the only time in his career he has had an OBP above .290 in five or more plate appearances.
Even with Casey Blake on the disabled list and Juan Uribe missing the occasional game or five with various injuries, DeJesus has started just five of 28 games, amassing a total of 27 plate appearances, since returning to the Dodgers after Rafael Furcal broke his thumb on April 11.