While the Mets have internally discussed releasing second baseman Luis Castillo, they still plan to bring the veteran to camp, tweets Jon Heyman of SI. However, the club is at the 40-man limit and as they continue to look into acquiring more pieces, such as a left-handed reliever, they could sever ties with the second baseman.
Castillo's lack of versatility makes it difficult for the Mets to keep him. Mets GM Sandy Alderson has shopped Castillo around but after posting a .235/.337/.267 slash line in 2010, it's been difficult to find a taker. Alderson recently conceded to ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin that if he stays with the team, it'll have to be as the primary second baseman.
“If he’s going to be on the club, it probably will have to be as the regular second baseman, or somebody who plays quite a bit of the time at second base. He just doesn’t give us enough coverage other places to play a utility role…And I think that’s probably his best and maybe only role — regular duty at second base,” the GM explained.
The three-time All-Star is set to make $6MM in the final year of a four-year, $25MM deal.
Infield Fly
You know, since it’s probably going to be a rough season anyway I could learn to live with Castillo….just as long as Oliver Pérez is just outta here!….
That’s all I ask. Again.
Slopeboy
You should take your cue from the Castillo situation. $12MM is a lot of money to have to eat.Unfortunately, Perez is going to be given a chance to compete for a job so he can be moved without having to pay for the whole contract. Don’t be surprised if he’s on the roster Opening Day Ugh!!
Infield Fly
“Perez is going to be given a chance to compete for a job so he can be moved without having to pay for the whole contract. Don’t be surprised if he’s on the roster Opening Day Ugh!!”
Point taken, Slope’. In that case I’d like to recommend that the first promotional giveaway of the season be “Mets Barf Bucket Day,” ’cause MAN are we gonna NEED one!
Infield Fly
“Perez is going to be given a chance to compete for a job so he can be moved without having to pay for the whole contract. Don’t be surprised if he’s on the roster Opening Day Ugh!!”
Point taken, Slope’. In that case I’d like to recommend that the first promotional giveaway of the season be “Mets Barf Bucket Day,” ’cause MAN are we gonna NEED one!
Victor Kipp
ya or paper bag night so folks can where them to conceal their identity. All of these give aways of course are in question if not a soul shows up to the ball park.
Slopeboy
You should take your cue from the Castillo situation. $12MM is a lot of money to have to eat.Unfortunately, Perez is going to be given a chance to compete for a job so he can be moved without having to pay for the whole contract. Don’t be surprised if he’s on the roster Opening Day Ugh!!
MetsEventually
Gary Cohen, making everything great.
Kevin Chambers
Can someone explain to me why no one likes him. I looked at his stats and they seem decent enough.
Slopeboy
Your question gives credence to the old adage that says: ‘There are lies.Damn lies and statistics’. His numbers actuallly masked how poorly he played as a Met.Castillo has had a few reasons for Mets fans to not like him. He’s played poorly for most of the years, has been injured and has given the impression that he was in no hurry to get back to playing. Compounded that with being out of condition when he finally did return and played stupidly at times.
His Cardinal sin was blowing a game by dropping a pop-up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth against the Yankees, which allowed the winning run to score.
I’m not certain Mets fans have or will ever forgive that.
Smrtbusnisman04
Because he adds know pop to the lineup or on base ability to the lineup and he fields a horrible 2B. According to UZR, I believe he was ranked among the lowest in the National League.
He should be payed league minimum but this year, he is being paid $6 million.
Justin J. Bartz
Not to be a complete spelling nazi, but “payed” and “paid” in the same sentence? Not to mention “know pop” instead of “no pop” in the first sentence.
Smrtbusnisman04
I apologize. I was tired and preparing for a big snowstorm.
MetsFanXXIII
6-12-09
MetsEventually
Dude can’t hit the ball out of the infield. .604 OPS, terrible range and making 6 million dollars. He’s terrible.
Jonny Dollar
Eat some salary and swing a deal with the Cubs. I think if he could play a full year, injury free, he would be a benefit to the team.
Aaron X
Cubs should do Zambrano and Fukudome for Beltran, Castillo, and and Perez.
start_wearing_purple
Zambrano may be a overpaid and hot tempered but I’d still take him over any 3 of those players from the Mets.
Slopeboy
While I agree with you about Perez and Castillo, I take exception with Beltran.
Beltran takes a bad rap for getting hurt and being a malcontent which is not fair.If you look at his overall numbers, he’s been productive and lived up to his contract.
ritz
Beltran has done nothing to deserve the hard time he gets from the NY reporters. His teammates and beat reporters have had nothing but great things to say about him, but because he doesn’t smile and isn’t in front of every camera like Francoeur was then obviously he’s a “cancer”. None of these reporters made it well known that Beltran took Pagan under his wing and helped mold him or that Beltran pulled Duda aside when he was slumping and told him to relax or went down the cage with HoJo and helped Francoeur with his swing. Nope, Beltran is such a terrible person. /sarcasm
Slopeboy
While I agree with you about Perez and Castillo, I take exception with Beltran.
Beltran takes a bad rap for getting hurt and being a malcontent which is not fair.If you look at his overall numbers, he’s been productive and lived up to his contract.
East Coast Bias
Even Beltran?!
East Coast Bias
Even Beltran?!
sourbob
Blake deWitt > Luis Castillo.
And I’m not even a DeWitt fan. Castillo’s just that bad. He’s so bad, he’d have to do well for a while for the Mets to even be able to trade him to someone else and pay his salary for them. Release is the only way he’s leaving.
jdsmith84
Jeff Baker also > Luis Castillo
Steven St Croix
I remember his free agency year was the same as Kaz Matsui. What a waste both players were during their combined 7 years and 41.5 million.
CitizenSnips
Might wanna add former in front of three time All-star. It’s been awhile.
CitizenSnips
Might wanna add former in front of three time All-star. It’s been awhile.
MetsEventually
No Castillo/Perez trade rumors. Who wants range-less, 35+ aged second basemen and a pitcher who throws 88, with nothing else on his secondary pitches. One of the two, will not be a Met come April. At worst, it’ll be June.
woadude
Wasn’t Castillio the one that dropped a routine pop up against the Yankees that cost them the game?
East Coast Bias
Yes! Great game hahaa
I think it was the year before last, and it was seen as a turning point when the Yankees started beasting that year.
East Coast Bias
Yes! Great game hahaa
I think it was the year before last, and it was seen as a turning point when the Yankees started beasting that year.
JohnLucarelli
yup. it was K-Rods first blown save as a Met too because of that. i knew he was going to drop it the way he never got under that ball. it was digusting.
friSCObayshark
Trade for Aaron Rowand. Bad contract swap. Or Zito.
run
like they are rumoring, i see no harm in him or ollie coming to ST. give them easy assignments and hope they get hot, trade them for prospects while eating their contract or swap them for another 1yr remaining bad contract. and if it doesnt work, just release them. as for signing players, its a simple situation. hey player a we will give u minor league contract with invite to ST and _____ bonus will kick in if you make the team.
run
like they are rumoring, i see no harm in him or ollie coming to ST. give them easy assignments and hope they get hot, trade them for prospects while eating their contract or swap them for another 1yr remaining bad contract. and if it doesnt work, just release them. as for signing players, its a simple situation. hey player a we will give u minor league contract with invite to ST and _____ bonus will kick in if you make the team.
TwinsVet
I’d really like to see a statistical breakdown of how many contracts signed by players over the age of 30 look decent in the final year.
My instinct is most teams who sign a guy over the age of 30 end up regretting the deal in the final year.
Mr Top Ten
My god the mob wants blood. Met fans like me and everyone else want Perez and Castillo gone. They will not help Mets or anyone else this year. When they get cut in ST, and they will, it will truly mark a new beginning in Met baseball
thegrayrace
Mets should’ve taken anything they could get for him after he posted a decent .302/.387/.346 line in 2009.