Unloading Castillo

[Benjamin Grimm]

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune (I have no idea how credible he may be; his last name alone may be reason to doubt him) says that Luis Castillo may be a Cub as soon as... today!

Is Luis Castillo the Cubs' guy?
November 11, 2009 6:56 AM
By Phil Rogers

On the first day of the general managers' meetings, a report circulated about a possible three-way deal that would send Milton Bradley from the Cubs to the Blue Jays and bring second baseman Luis Castillo from the Mets to the Cubs. It wasn't realistic, however, as the Jays did not want Bradley. But the Cubs are interested in Castillo and both Tampa Bay and Texas are potential landing spots for Bradley.

What if the Mets would take Pat Burrell from the Rays or someone like Brandon McCarthy or Chris Davis from the Rangers -- and perhaps Mike Fontenot from the Cubs -- to facilitate getting rid of Castillo?

Cubs GM Jim Hendry could then go to his new owners and explain why it makes sense to pay part of the $21 million owed Bradley because he's adding a part -- the 34-year-old Castillo as a leadoff man/second baseman -- that can help in 2010. At that point a deal becomes possible, as early as Wednesday.

Castillo, due $6 million in each of the next two seasons, might cost the Cubs $10 million a season when you factor in the portion of Bradley's deal that Hendry would have to pay. But that's an easier sell than simply releasing Bradley, especially if Castillo can help.

He's been a fall guy with the Mets since dropping the pop up that cost them a game against the Yankees last season. Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, would like to trade him to create room to add a free-agent second baseman, with Orlando Hudson high on his list. Yet Castillo did hit .302 with a .387 on-base percentage last year. He had more walks (69) than strikeouts (58) for the third straight season. He stole 20 bases.

A switch hitter who is better from the left side, he fits the Cubs' long-term plans nicely. He could split second with Ryan Theriot once the fast-rising Starlin Castro has been installed at shortstop, which could be as soon as the middle of 2010. Hendry is working to get him.

[HahnSolo]

Actually Phil, he's been a fall man since long before the drop. But, Oh, man, am I reading that right: they would take him and the Mets would NOT have to pay any of his salary??

[Centerfield]

Is Luis Castillo the Cubs' guy?
November 11, 2009 6:56 AM
By Phil Rogers

On the first day of the general managers' meetings, a report circulated about a possible three-way deal that would send Milton Bradley from the Cubs to the Blue Jays and bring second baseman Luis Castillo from the Mets to the Cubs. It wasn't realistic, however, as the Jays did not want Bradley. But the Cubs are interested in Castillo and both Tampa Bay and Texas are potential landing spots for Bradley.

What if the Mets would take Pat Burrell from the Rays or someone like Brandon McCarthy or Chris Davis from the Rangers -- and perhaps Mike Fontenot from the Cubs -- to facilitate getting rid of Castillo?

Cubs GM Jim Hendry could then go to his new owners and explain why it makes sense to pay part of the $21 million owed Bradley because he's adding a part -- the 34-year-old Castillo as a leadoff man/second baseman -- that can help in 2010. At that point a deal becomes possible, as early as Wednesday.

Castillo, due $6 million in each of the next two seasons, might cost the Cubs $10 million a season when you factor in the portion of Bradley's deal that Hendry would have to pay. But that's an easier sell than simply releasing Bradley, especially if Castillo can help.

He's been a fall guy with the Mets since dropping the pop up that cost them a game against the Yankees last season. Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, would like to trade him to create room to add a free-agent second baseman, with Orlando Hudson high on his list. Yet Castillo did hit .302 with a .387 on-base percentage last year. He had more walks (69) than strikeouts (58) for the third straight season. He stole 20 bases.

A switch hitter who is better from the left side, he fits the Cubs' long-term plans nicely. He could split second with Ryan Theriot once the fast-rising Starlin Castro has been installed at shortstop, which could be as soon as the middle of 2010. Hendry is working to get him.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Actually Phil, he's been a fall man since long before the drop. But, Oh, man, am I reading that right: they would take him and the Mets would NOT have to pay any of his salary??[/quote:32v31kds]

The Cubs are dumping an even bigger salary (Bradley's owed $21M over the next two years; Castillo $12M).

I'll have the Chris Davis, please. Is that on the menu, f'reals?

[Guest Edgy DC]

If this happens, what's on second?

[smg58]

I'm not sure there's a more viable suitor for Castillo's services at this point than the Cubs, so I have no problem talking shop with them.

Hudson's on the FA market and the Reds might be shopping Brandon Phillips, and that's just off the top of my head.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Phillips > Hudson > Castillo.

Could Chone Figgins play second?

[TransMonk]

I think Hudson would be an upgrade. Phillips is younger than Luis at least.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'll have the Chris Davis, please. Is that on the menu, f'reals?[/quote:1c7a934f]
That would give us three lefthanded firstbasemen, though, this one with even more dramatic splits.

[seawolf17]

I'll have the Chris Davis, please. Is that on the menu, f'reals?[/quote:15evzbpc]
That would give us three lefthanded firstbasemen, though, this one with even more dramatic splits.[/quote:15evzbpc]
Yeah, but the Yankees have a whole roster of first basemen, and they win the World Series every year.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I'll have the Chris Davis, please. Is that on the menu, f'reals?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm not sure it's buying low. It may be selling high on Castillo, but it creates a void at second and a redundancy at first.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I imagine the plan would be to fill the void at second by signing Orlando Hudson. (Don't know what the fallback would be, however, if Hudson opts to go elsewhere.)

As you say, trading for a part-time left-handed hitting first baseman doesn't seem to make sense, unless the plan is to flip either the new guy or Murphy for someone else.

[Vic Sage]

Phillips > Hudson > Castillo.

Could Chone Figgins play second?[/quote:2bxeyqok]

2b was his primary position in the minors, and he has 800 Innings at the position in the majors. So, yeah, he can play 2b. But whether he can play it WELL is another matter. I'd certainly be happy for the Mets to find out.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Googling around, it looks like the Cubs may really be targeting Castillo. (It's hard to know for sure; it may be that the numerous mentions all stem from the one Phil Rogers article.)

I'd give them Castillo for free if they'd also take Oliver Perez.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'd give them Castillo for free if they'd also take Oliver Perez.

That's silly.

Oliver Perez is the 2010 Luis Castillo: Coming off a year so bad that only playing to the best of his ability will salvage his career. It's all upside, in fact, because if he's as bad again the Mets will eat the contract or/or replace him anyway so there's nothing to lose. But I'd bet Ollie, if healthy, has a good year next year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'd rather have someone take Oliver's contract so the money can be reinvested for 2010.

But I really doubt Perez is going anywhere. Hopefully his 2010 will be a good one.

[Frayed Knot]

I'd give them Castillo for free if they'd also take Oliver Perez.

That's silly.

Oliver Perez is the 2010 Luis Castillo: Coming off a year so bad that only playing to the best of his ability will salvage his career. It's all upside, in fact, because if he's as bad again the Mets will eat the contract or/or replace him anyway so there's nothing to lose. But I'd bet Ollie, if healthy, has a good year next year.

[ashie62]

Is Orlando Hudson that much better than Castillo??

The King-Size Chris Davis meal comes with 200K's

[TransMonk]

Is Orlando Hudson that much better than Castillo??[/quote:xpke4u0v]

2009:

O Hudson (31 years old): .283/.357/.417/.774, 9 HR, 62 RBI

L Castillo (33 years old): .302/.387/.346/.732, 1 HR, 40 RBI

Hudson would be marginally cheaper as well as 2 years younger.

[bmfc1]

While I like Orlando Hudson more than Castillo (I like Jennifer Hudson more than Castillo), I wonder why Torre benched him in all 8 playoff games in favor of Belliard.

[ashie62]

True, but not enough to knock my socks off..

[metirish]

Phillips > Hudson > Castillo.

Could Chone Figgins play second?

[Frayed Knot]

I remember Figgins as being a not particularly good 2Bman - although that was back in the beginning of his career when the Angels were using him as a kind of Jack of all trades guy. They seemed to just try and shoe-horn him in wherever they had an opening which made him somewhat valuable because he could play so many spots but wasn't particularly proficient at any of them. He became a much better glove-man once he settled down at 3B and seems like the type who could adapt to the middle of the diamond given enough reps.

I do worry that after years of being sort of under the radar he's now - at age 32 - going to get overpaid for those past performances by someone who tries to sell him as a cornerstone type of guy. His career BA & OBA numbers are almost identical to Castillo's with power that is only somewhat better and still well below average. Runs a decent amount but gets caught a fair amount too - although that type of high-risk running seems to come with the territory on Scioscia-run teams.
Walks took a big jump this year for whatever reason. Is ~ 2-1/2 years younger than Luis.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Figgins would be nice at 2B in that he'd provide the kind of 1-2 speed punch at the top of the order the Mets have been trying to assemble ever since Reyes first came up. But I'd excuse them for not pursuing him if he can't play second base adequately, since I don't think we need that guy in the outfield.

[metirish]

Figgins really only makes sense at 2nd right? , could this team have that stick in LF?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm wondering if signing Figgins or Hudson at this stage of their careers wouldn't be so much escaping Castillo's contract as it would be hitting reset on it. They're not far off of where he was two years ago, and they might have the leverage to command four years as well.

[ashie62]

There are a number of problems on this team, Castillo is not one of them..Forget Hudson and Figgins

[soupcan]

Minaya said. "I think catching, in general as an industry...[/quote:pikllbqd]

Catching is an industry?

Good thing Omar's here to fill in the void Kiner has left. It's a different flavor of mangled English but a malaprop is a malaprop is a malaprop (or is it an eggcorn in this case?).

[ashie62]

Greg Zaun works in the Catching industry and is available

Worth throwing any eggcorns at him?