Rusney Castillo

Rusney Castillo signed a deal with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball for $600K guaranteed plus $1 million in incentives, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Fantasy Impact

Castillo is six years removed from signing a seven-year, $72.5 million deal with the Boston Red Sox back in 2014. He never lived up to the contract in the majors, though, compiling a .262/.301/.379 slash line with seven home runs and 35 RBI across 317 at-bats with the Sox between 2014-16. If he plays well enough in Japan he could get another shot in MLB in the future.

Rusney Castillo has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket by the Red Sox.

Fantasy Impact

It was not surprising that Castillo cleared waivers considering no team would want to take on his six-year, $72.5 million contract. Castillo will go back to Pawtucket to try to get things straightened out as he has not produced this season hitting .245 with one home run over 38 games at Triple-A. If someone is holding onto him in fantasy leagues with hopes he turns things around would be better off looking in another direction.

The Red Sox have outrighted OF Rusney Castillo on waivers.

Fantasy Impact

This is upsetting considering the $72.5 million investment the Red Sox made with Castillo when they signed him a few seasons back. It will be interesting to see where he ends up but the odds are not in their favor as whichever team claims him up will have to take on his entire contract. For now we can consider Rusney one of the biggest bust to come out of the international market.

Rusney Castillo went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Orioles. He was the fill-in starter in left field for Chris Young, who left Wednesday's game with a quadriceps injury.

Fantasy Impact

This was the first start for Castillo since being called up from Triple-A. He definitely looked overmatched at the plate while striking out. Look for Castillo to end up back in the minors when the Red Sox get healthy.

Rusney Castillo is in the lineup playing left field against Baltimore on Thursday, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports. Castillo will be making his second start of the season in Thursday's outing after coming into Wednesday's game for Chris Young (quadriceps) during the ninth inning.

Fantasy Impact

Castillo has been a major disappointment this season for fantasy owners. Expected to win the left field job for the Red Sox, Castillo struggled and got sent down to Triple-A. The 28-year-old hit only .245 with one home run and 13 RBI in 147 at-bats for the minor league club. Depending on the severity of Chris Young's injury this could be a chance for Castillo to redeem himself and win a spot with the Sox.