Castro back in fold (updated)

After surveying the field, the White Sox returned to their old backup catcher, signing Ramon Castro to a one-year, $1 million deal.
If you despite Castro with your coal-black heart and are looking for a reason to like this deal, don't think of his name as "Ramon Castro." Think of him as "Not Tyler Flowers."
The Sox brass expressed confidence in Flowers' abilities, but I'm glad to see it was nothing more than positive reinforcement.  Flowers still has much to learn, both at and behind the plate.  We've heard a lot about his defensive improvement and the progress yet to be made, but he could use offense reps as well.  Though he hit well in Charlotte (.286/.364/.438), but he can hit for more power than that, and strike out less.
So now A.J. Pierzynski's backup is Not Tyler Flowers, buying the Sox an extra year of time while Flowers finishes off developing his game at Triple-A.  That's encouraging news.
A few other reasons why this makes sense:
No. 1: $1 million is about the going rate. Chris Widger was the last journeyman backup catcher the Sox used at the start of a season, and he made $650,000.  Adjusting for inflation and factoring in Castro's solid track record before 2009, and only a complete no-name would be noticeably cheaper. Henry Blanco signed with the New York Mets for $1.5 million, and it would've cost more to bring him to the American League. There really isn't that much of a difference -- half a win at best, if you believe WAR.
No. 2: The law of averages is on his side. Castro probably isn't as bad as he showed at the plate in 2009, so unless he's truly lost it, he should be in for a rebound of some sort.
No. 3:  He knows the pitching staff. Despite spending half a season on the South Side and getting a fraction of the playing time behind Pierzynski, Castro caught three of the Sox's seven best starts in 2009. He wouldn't be back if Don Cooper and Ozzie Guillen didn't think he prepared well enough.
No. 4: The backup catcher is going to suck anyway. Blame it on Pierzynski's culture of fear. If the Sox tried somebody else, we'd probably be complaining about him, too.
The only way to definitely improve the situation would be, as knox suggested, to trade for somebody like Ryan Doumit, and that's an entirely different animal with its own set of concerns.  As long as the Sox were looking for a low-cost backup catcher who wouldn't upset Pierzynski in a contract year, Castro's just about the best they could.
At the very least, it's Not Tyler Flowers.
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Castro's acquisition could mean happy trails for Cole Armstrong, who was DFA'd to clear a space on the 40-man roster.  The Sox have passed two catchers through waivers in previous seasons -- Corky Miller last season, and Donny Lucy before him.
I think it's far unlikelier that Armstrong will remain in the Sox organization.  There are a million Millers and Lucy wasn't healthy, but Armstrong's combination of left-handedness and solid defensive skills could lead a team to give him a shot.