Dodgers Rehire Castillo Before He Even Tries Out

The Dodgers invited free agent Bobby Castillo to try out Monday, but then decided to sign him sight unseen. Before he had even thrown a pitch, Dodger officials announced that he was in the fold for 1985.

It came as a surprise to Castillo, who got the news from reporters before he even met with Dodger vice president Al Campanis.

“How much did I sign for?” Castillo asked.

The figure was not announced, but the signing represents as much a gamble as an investment for the Dodgers, since Castillo had a rotator-cuff injury that limited him to a 2-1 record in 10 games with Minnesota last season. He didn’t have surgery, but he had his right arm in a cast for eight weeks and didn’t throw from September, 1983, until last July.

“At first, I was scared when they told me it was the cuff,” Castillo said. “I didn’t know if I’d throw again.

“The first inning, I’d feel fine, the second inning I’d still feel good, but by the third inning I didn’t have the good pop.”

This will be Castillo’s second go-round with the Dodgers. He was 13-14 with them from 1977-81. Before being traded to the Twins for two minor-leaguers in 1982, however, he made one lasting contribution. He taught Fernando Valenzuela his screwball. Time for a payback?

“Maybe he can turn me on to a Rolls,” Castillo said, laughing.

Castillo’s best season with the Twins was 1982, when he went 13-11 and led the team in wins, innings pitched and complete games. In 1983, he was 8-12.

Castillo figures to fill the role of long reliever once held by Pat Zachry, who was traded to Philadelphia for Al Oliver.

Oliver made his first appearance in a Dodger uniform Monday, wearing the familiar O on his back.

Oliver, 38, becomes the oldest Dodger. He is two years older than Steve Garvey and Ron Cey, and three years older than Dusty Baker, all of whom were unloaded in a supposed youth movement. So much for Baby Blue.

“I’ll bet Bill Russell was glad to see me get here,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether Oliver becomes the Dodgers’ newest first baseman, outfielder or pinch-hitter.

Oliver--a lifetime .305 hitter with 2,676 hits--belonged to three teams in 1984, going from Montreal to San Francisco to the Phillies. The Dodgers are his sixth team.

“If this will be my last stop, you’ll get no argument from me,” Oliver said. “Like anybody else, I’d like to settle down and be a player.

“I’ve had a lot of adjustments to make with the teams I’ve played on. I’ve played a lot of positions. But, regardless of the situation, I try to look on the positive side. My career has been fruitful. I don’t have to prove anything, I just want to help the team to win and play on another world championship team. I haven’t been on one since 1971 (Pittsburgh).”