Castillo signs

[Mex17]

4 years/$25 million as per Ken Rosenthal, Rotoworld, and some Spanish website.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

With the Mets?

Um.

[metirish]

] Sources: Mets close to re-signing Castillo Ken Rosenthal FOXSports.com, Updated 31 minutes ago The Mets, overcoming stiff competition, are close to re-signing free-agent second baseman Luis Castillo to a four-year, $25 million contract, according to major-league sources. The deal, the Mets' first major move of the off-season, would resolve the team's opening at second base at a time when they are unsettled at catcher and on the verge of losing left-hander Tom Glavine to the Braves. The Astros, Nationals and Cubs all had expressed interest in Castillo, whom the Mets acquired from the Twins for two minor leaguers last July 30. Mets officials last week met with free-agent shortstop David Eckstein, who played second base in the minors with the Red Sox's organization. But Castillo, 32, was their first choice. A four-year contract for Castillo amounts to a risk, considering that he has battled leg problems over the past several seasons. But when healthy, Castillo is a dynamic top-of-the-order presence. The Mets are not oblivious to medical concerns � they ended negotiations with free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba over the weekend, apparently because of questions about the condition of his right shoulder. The Rockies are considering re-signing Torrealba to a two-year deal. The Mets likely will revisit other options at catcher, including a possible trade for the Orioles' Ramon Hernandez and Rangers' Gerald Laird. Castillo had a .296 batting average and .371 on-base percentage in 50 games with the Mets last season. A three-time All-Star, he began his career with the Marlins before getting traded to the Twins after the 2005 season and the Mets last summer.

[nymr83]

i dont like it. this guy is rapidly degenerating, by the end of this contract he'll be a huge liability. a contract like this also takes ABs away from Easley and Gotay, because lets face it, they arent benching the guy with a 4 year deal no matter who is hitting better.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Well, it's not like Easley had expectations of starts to begin with. He's there to hit the other team's lefthanded relievers and fill in whhen needed.

Gotay as long as the Mets don't believe in his glove is either a nice spot starter or, better, trade bait.

Four years is prolly four times what I'd like to have Castillo locked up for. The money ain't great but not like there's going to be takers by year 2.5.

Eh.

[Valadius]

I would have liked this before I found out that Castillo was a bad influence on Reyes. My dad has a good source who told him that Castillo parties way too much, and stays out really late, and that Reyes went out with him nearly every night after Castillo was traded here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Perhaps he can get Johan Santana laid.

[Frayed Knot]

At least twice as long as I would have preferred - but whatyagointodo?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Here in the post-Torrealba era, I'd like to see a thread title in the same tense as the article being referenced.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I kinda grew fond of Castillo. He looked like he absolutely hated losing and that's sadly not based on a small sample size. I kept waiting for his broken body to just go poof and for him to implode into a pile of dust, but writhing in pain, or just kinda hurting, he always busted down the line and hung in on DP's and made some nice plays in the field. His legs scare me, because if they go for good, there's not much left. 4 years is a long time.

Woulda been neat to see Hudson, Weeks, Barfield, or some other younger, less decrepit second baseman be imported. But if it's Luis, then rest your legs, man. Please.

[Elster88]

Valadius wrote: My dad has a good source

His hairdresser's cousin?

] who told him that Castillo parties way too much, and stays out really late, and that Reyes went out with him nearly every night after Castillo was traded here

Now there's a real shocker. Professional athletes out partying, who could've figured?

[Elster88]

="A Boy Named Seo"]I kinda grew fond of Castillo. He looked like he absolutely hated losing and that's sadly not based on a small sample size. I kept waiting for his broken body to just go poof and for him to implode into a pile of dust, but writhing in pain, or just kinda hurting, he always busted down the line and hung in on DP's and made some nice plays in the field. His legs scare me, because if they go for good, there's not much left. 4 years is a long time.

Me too. It hurt just to watch him hobble around last year. The four years scares me too. Hopefully when he becomes ineffective we can buy him out or something. Or just cut him and take the hit.

[seawolf17]

Four years, $25 million is reasonable enough that he'll be cuttable in two years if they don't get what they need out of him. I like the deal.

Welcome back, Luis.

[smg58]

Don't like the years, but that's not a bad amount of money per year. Hopefully he can stay healthy.

[Frayed Knot]

Health is part of it - although he already had a procedure to fix whatever was bothering him with his knees and maybe getting off the Minny turf helps too - but I'm at least as worried about the fact that he really isn't all that good. The per/year money is probably about what he deserves, but he's still essentially the worst slugger in the league and has only decent (tho hardly great) BA/OBA numbers in recent seasons. If his singles/on base skills dip down just another few clicks toward mediocre then he becomes decidedly sub-par, heading for mid-30s, MI-er w/NO power and declining speed with several years left on a contract that probably can't be traded for much.

Granted that some of the above is worst-case scenario - but I don't think it's all that far-fetched.
Met fans & media types seem to be mostly A-OK with this deal while downright giddy about the one for Torreabla falling through (even before the shoulder questions) but there are also fewer other options at catcher than there are at 2B.

[Elster88]

seawolf17 wrote: Four years, $25 million is reasonable enough that he'll be cuttable in two years if they don't get what they need out of him.

Can they cut him in two years with no penalty? I thought the contract was guaranteed even if they cut him.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It sounds to me like the contract is guaranteed. (Most are, unless they include the term "option year.") If they cut him after two years, they'd have to eat years three and four.

More likely if the Mets decide to go with someone else, they'd trade Castillo and eat a portion of his salary.

[Frayed Knot]

I think what he means is that two years of the contract will be eat-able if he sucks half way through - although $12+ mil is a helluva big lunch.

btw, Mets are still saying that this is NOT a done deal.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, yeah, but they also said the same thing about Yorvit...

[Valadius]

I can't remember who the source was. My dad can't remember either, other than he thinks it was someone close to Willie. However, I faintly recall him saying something about a bouncer at some club. So I dunno. All I know is, he's certain that it was somebody in the know.

[smg58]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Well, it's not like Easley had expectations of starts to begin with. He's there to hit the other team's lefthanded relievers and fill in whhen needed. Gotay as long as the Mets don't believe in his glove is either a nice spot starter or, better, trade bait.

Anderson could fill Gotay's role in the infield, and reserve outfielders who can hit decently aren't terribly hard to come by. I'd be curious to see what Gotay's market value is. Somebody looking for a cheap plug-in against righties would find him useful.

[metirish]

Valadius wrote: I can't remember who the source was. My dad can't remember either, other than he thinks it was someone close to Willie. However, I faintly recall him saying something about a bouncer at some club. So I dunno. All I know is, he's certain that it was somebody in the know.

Must be the bouncer that told about his hard partying ways.

[nymr83]

even though i hate giving him 4 years there is a plus side to this- no david eckstein.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, right or wrong I kinda prefer Castillo to Eckstein. I would be thrilled to se Castillo arrive at camp without a spare tire. I mean, that's my goal too.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's official:

Mets press release wrote: The New York Mets announced today that they have re-signed free agent infielder Luis Castillo to a four-year contract. Castillo will team up with the Mets Foundation to donate a portion of the contract to charities.

[Guest Edgy DC]

HE BETTER!

[stevejrogers]

Valadius wrote: I would have liked this before I found out that Castillo was a bad influence on Reyes. My dad has a good source who told him that Castillo parties way too much, and stays out really late, and that Reyes went out with him nearly every night after Castillo was traded here.

Just to corroborate, remeber he missed Glavine's 300th game, a NIGHT game after a DAY game due to "exhaustion."

Well...I can tell you I saw him the night before the Glavine game, and he certaintly was still up around 2-3am.

[seawolf17]

Is Steve Rogers Valadius' dad? Weird.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, first of all, Stevey Scoops, it was Glavine's 300th win, not his 300th game. Second of all, who gives a fig? If he needed a night off, it was as good as any. Third of all, it was clear to anybody watching that his legs needed rest.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Weird, too that Valadius J. Rogers' dad is out so late partying himself.