Current Contract
Signed a minor league contract on December 12, 2007.

Became a Cardinal
Signed as a minor league free agent on February 7, 2007.

2007 Season
Castellanos opened the 2007 season with Springfield (AA) where he went 1-2 with three saves and a 2.45 ERA.

The reliever was promoted to Triple-A Memphis on 4/30/07 and went 3-1 with a 3.49 ERA (56.2 IP / 22 ER) in 37 appearances for the Redbirds.

He had a stretch of 11.1 scoreless innings at Memphis from 6/9 - 7/5, including 3.1 scoreless innings on 6/18 at Iowa.

He participated in the Mexican Winter League this offseason and went 2-0 with seven saves and a 0.89 ERA in 34 games (30.1 IP).

Career Notes
Castellanos began the 2006 season with Tijuana of the Mexican League, going 6-0 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 games, 17 of which were starts. He allowed 105 hits, struck out 111 and walked 39 in 110.2 innings. He was signed by the Cubs in September and appeared in a total of five games for their Triple-A and Double-A clubs.

Following the season, he pitched for the Mazatlan Deer of the Mexican Pacific League, starting eight games and relieving in four, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.22 ERA. He struck out 29 and walked 17 in 50.1 innings pitched. In the playoffs, he allowed a single run in six innings for a 1.50 ERA while fanning five.

Castellanos began his professional career in 1996 with the Tampa Bay organization. He then moved to Toronto, for whom he pitched from 2000-2003, making it as far as Triple-A. Castellanos pitched in the Cubs system in 2004 and 2006 at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. For his career, he has posted a 13-21 record with a 4.37 ERA in 307 innings, almost all in relief.

Photo: St. Louis Cardinals