Unloading Castillo

[Frayed Knot]

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.[/quote:1vg0kyhp]

When he signed his NYM contract, Luis was 32 y/o and coming off three seasons of: .299 / .361 / .367 + 54 SBs
Figgins - 32 before next season starts - is coming off three seasons of .300 / .383 / .392 + 117 SBs

so Figgins walks a little more (mostly due to a spike in '09) hits for a bit more power (IsoP = .092 vs .068) and runs more often

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's a little better, certainly, and a meaningful little, but the parallel I also see is the long-terminess of a guy with little history of high-end performance entering a decline phase of his career. Taking bids from teams looking for outfielders, thirdbasemen, and secondbasemen gives Figgins some leverage, and his reported asking price is five years, fifty mills.

I have no idea if he'll get that, but it spooks me perhaps more than two more years of Castillo for 12 mills.

[ashie62]

Wouldn't it be prudent to leave Castillo be and expend ammo elsewhere?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Can you make a case for Felipe Lopez? He's one of those guys who I can't distinguish from other guys with similar latin names.

But he's the former Reds and Nats SS who became a 2B when I wasn't looking, and also, got traded to the Brewers, and also, hits better than I would have guessed.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Everybody seems to hate the guy. He displays offensive skills whenever he gets a chance, but then people throw his ass back in the lake.

Started for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Seems to me that Mets have genuine hitters coming down the pike at first and at catcher. At second, they have two prospects arrving in the next few years. It seems the place to overdose is in the outfield, where left is vacant, center has a bum (and possibly permanently so) knee, and right managed to tread water after drowning for two years, but could go under for a third time at any moment. I'd maybe get one or two guys --- the best outfielder avialable and perhpas a Nady-type to swing between outfield and first. Nady himself may not be signable without a position waiting for him, but I'd fish around for somebody like that. Let Castillo play, get a good B-plan, and let's see what happens. It seems he'll always be able to get some walks.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

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.[/quote:nv012c32]

Hunches. Belliard was "hot."

As good as he appears to be at managing personalities, Torre is a lot shittier at managing the game than he's ever been given credit for being.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Seems to me that Mets have genuine hitters coming down the pike at first and at catcher. At second, they have two prospects arrving in the next few years. It seems the place to overdose is in the outfield, where left is vacant, center has a bum (and possibly permanently so) knee, and right managed to tread water after drowning for two years, but could go under for a third time at any moment. I'd maybe get one or two guys --- the best outfielder avialable and perhpas a Nady-type to swing between outfield and first. Nady himself may not be signable without a position waiting for him, but I'd fish around for somebody like that. Let Castillo play, get a good B-plan, and let's see what happens. It seems he'll always be able to get some walks.[/quote:2nsxiz8k]

Yep. Except you could argue that performance isn't the primary consideration to moving Castillo anymore; he's the "guy who dropped that ball" and "the guy who dropped those other balls." He'll get the Heilman treatment from the WFAN crowd if he's back again next spring.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Those folks so need to not get their way.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Apparently Jon Heyman is saying that the Mets might trade Castillo to the Dodgers for Juan Pierre.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Apparently Jon Heyman is saying that the Mets might trade Castillo to the Dodgers for Juan Pierre.[/quote:117dyi80]

That would be fucked up.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

But he's gritty and good on defense and...

Christ, even doing this sarcastically is making me sad and angry. (Not that I trust Heyman so much, but that's all too believable a rumor.)

[metirish]

Juan fucking Pierre?

Omar has been wanting him since his Montreal days .

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Minaya said some teams have shown interest in Luis Castillo. The Dodgers are one team to have spoken to the Mets. How about Castillo for his old Marlins teammate Juan Pierre?[/quote:oitsccba]

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sounds like a floater.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yeah, when I posted the above, I hadn't read Heyman's actual words, just a blurb (on Google News) referencing his article. It does seem now that this is more Heyman's thought rather than any discussion that's actually taking place.

[Frayed Knot]

That's essentially just a warmed-over rumor from last year.
I thought the idea sucked then even with Castillo coming off his lousy year although Pierre had a much better year - or at least a partial year while Manny was in steroids prison - then anyone had a right to expect.

Still, if we're going to dump Luis I'd want it to be for a player we could actually use rather than just a warm body so we can say we no longer have Castillo.