Red Sox reassign Castillo, Craig, and their $22M in salaries to minors

The Boston Red Sox reassigned Rusney Castillo, Allen Craig, and their combined $22.2 million 2017 salaries to minor-league camp early Sunday morning.

While the move doesn't come as a surprise as neither occupy a spot on the 40-man roster, it's a reminder of the large salaries both players will earn while playing for Triple-A Pawtucket this season.

Castillo enjoyed a strong spring, hitting .368/.385/.526 with one home run, three doubles, seven RBIs, and three stolen bases in 21 games. It's unlikely he'll get a shot in the majors again in 2017, however.

The Red Sox outfield is set, and even barring injury, the 29-year-old's $11.2-million salary would put the club near the luxury tax threshold if added back on the 40-man. Castillo still has four years, $49 million left on his deal.

"The need is going to be the main thing," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, according to Christopher Smith of Mass Live. "At this point, the durability factor of our outfield, particularly in Rusney's case - when you just evaluate the skills and the overall durability - we happen to be in a very strong and healthy place with the outfield that's currently here."

Craig is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $11 million. The Red Sox hold a $13-million team option in 2018 that will almost assuredly be declined. The former All-Star hasn't appeared in a major-league game since 2015 and played in just 29 games in the minors last season due to injury. He hit .250/.320/.364 with one home run and 12 strikeouts in 21 games this spring.