The New York Mets today announced that they have released 35-year-old second baseman Luis Castillo.
The 5-11, 191-pound switch-hitter had one year left on his contract.
“This was baseball decision,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson. “I met with Terry (Collins) and made a recommendation to Jeff (Wilpon) and Jeff approved on behalf of ownership.”
Castillo was acquired by the Mets from the Minnesota Twins on July 30, 2007 for minor league catcher Drew Butera and minor league outfielder Dustin Martin.
He has a .299 career average over 13 major league seasons with 194 doubles, 59 triples, 28 home runs, 443 RBI and 370 stolen bases. – Link
More from Sandy via Rubin:
“I don’t think there’s any question that there’s some linkage between his situation and a perception of the Mets that has existed to this point,” Alderson said. “That’s something that was taken into account. At some point, you have to make an organizational decision that goes beyond just an ability to play or not play. So those things are relevant. And you try not to make them so controlling that it dictates the final decision under any circumstances. Realistically, it’s a factor.”
51 comments
TRS86
3/18/2011-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
Oh happy day…. oh happy day!!!
Oh wait, I am now a racist pig. Oh well….
Oh happy day…
njstuckintx
3/18/2011-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
I thought to myself the same thing. Well, the happy day portion.
As to the pig part, Korean short ribs sound delectable right now. Even a pulled pork sandwich.
stickguy
3/18/2011-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Probably more than a strict on the field BB decision, but that certainly was a large, justifiable, component to it!
Time to move on to a younger, more dynamic option with upside. And pray like hell that Havens is cured of the oblique problem, and ready by mid-may!
mrose
3/18/2011-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
in case anyone wants to use this in a post… Jay and I took this on March 6th and planned on creating a post talking about the irony..but neither of us had a chance to get around to it..
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_1d2A580WfYA/TYOCLHs9CII/AAAAAAAAAQ4/3A9eX67kB4s/s720/IMG_0476.JPG
TRS86
3/18/2011-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, Mookie’s new parking place.
Dirtysanchez
3/18/2011-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Na na na na…na na na na..hey..hey…hey…
Im sure it wont take long for luis to find a job…hell…he might only have to drive a few miles west to philly
njstuckintx
3/18/2011-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Phils, I bet.
Mr North Jersey
3/18/2011-12:09pm at 12:09 pm (UTC -4)
Castillo to the Phillies due to Utley missing some time to start the season.
TRS86
3/18/2011-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Opinion or actually a rumor?
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
pretty much the first rumor (not because anyone in the know said it, just fan supposition) that popped up many places.
While it would be sad to have Luis go there and have a renaissance year, I don’t think the odds of it are great. So, let him join the rest of the Met cast offs down in Philly. It really doesn’t make them any scarier.
Oh, Utley has left camp to make the rounds of specialists, since his knee is not improving. This is getting real close to surgery and out for the year, based on the reports down here.
TRS86
3/18/2011-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Honestly is Castillo even replacement level and if so by how much?
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
not even close last year.
Mr North Jersey
3/18/2011-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
Neither a joke.
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
well, that added comment pretty much says Ollie is gone too.
if nothing else, translate it to mean that Ollie has to out pitch, but a noticeable amount, the other options to win a job. And we know that Ain’t happening.
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
as for the phils, they may have their option in place already. Don’t forget, Castillo has to clear waivers (10 days?) before he can be signed for the minimum. So, that does not leave much time to hook up with another team, as a starter.
He will fit right in with Philly though. Just the right age for one of their position players!
oleosmirf
3/18/2011-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
if Perez is cut as well it speaks volumes about the involvement of the Wilpons and will hopefully help with the whole Reyes being traded paranoia.
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
can you clarify this?
My take on the cuts is that it means Sandy is making the calls, not the Wilpons. But isn’t it sandy that many people are afraid doesn’t like Reyes (or his salary requirements)? If so, that seems to make it more likely Reyes leaves, than if the wilpons are meddling.
oleosmirf
3/18/2011-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
the reason fans assume Reyes is being traded is b/c of Madoff. We all know the Wilpons (as would any owner) prefer Castillo and Perez being paid to play here instead of being paid to play elsewhere.
It shows that Terry and management are the decision-makers and not the Wilpons. If Reyes is having a good season, then there is no logical reason for Reyes not being resigned…
TRS86
3/18/2011-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Not sure it proves that the Wilpons are not in slight control. Again if they want to sell then they need the Mets brand to be good. If they do not want to sell but get a loan or investor then they also need the Mets brand to be good. Thus any idea of a firesell and drop in payroll to 80M or something at this point does not make financial sense. Considering the Wilpons needs, what good will saving 40M do if they loose 100M and need 300M?
oleosmirf
3/18/2011-1:00pm at 1:00 pm (UTC -4)
i haven’t really considered the Wilpons selling the team. They love being the owners and I really doubt they would give up the majority share.
but i do agree that trading Reyes isnt the best way to attract minority investors…
TRS86
3/18/2011-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
I think there could be a point where MLB steps in and uh… guides them into selling majority share.
wannybackstra
3/18/2011-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Liabilities are an unattractive element to a potential purchase. A guaranteed $100m liability may not be attractive to buyers even if it the buyer thinks it makes the product better. After all, it might not.
TRS86
3/18/2011-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
True, but I think the fan lash back would have to be taken into account. Especially considering the already declining ticket sales.
wannybackstra
3/18/2011-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
The value of a business is often determined by its balance sheet. Assets – liabilities.
stickguy
3/18/2011-2:20pm at 2:20 pm (UTC -4)
well, the contract is a liability, but the player is an asset. Unless you are Ollie.
TRS86
3/18/2011-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
True, just thinking that ticket sales could be part of the equation.
TRS86
3/18/2011-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
I can see the point meaning that if the Wilpons want or do not want to sell right now one of the most important factors is fan disenchantment and not re-signing Reyes could increase that 10 fold.
oleosmirf
3/18/2011-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
I just dont understand why trading Reyes is a “baseball” decision. I could understand if we had a top SS prospect being blocked by Reyes in AAA but Tejada is not a special player and Flores is at least 2 years away and most likely will be playing another position.
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
it would have to be a financial decision, no matter the spin. He is still young enough that if they came out and said we are going to rebuild/retool for a couple years, he would still be in his prime for the rebirth.
and like I have said, if you trade Reyes, 110% you better dump Bay for anything you can get, and should seriously consider going all in (out?) and trading Wright too!
TRS86
3/18/2011-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t see it completely that way. It would really depend on how much the Mets will have to spend, how much Reyes will cost of that money and what they can get in return. Obviously the likely outcome of that study will be re-sign Reyes.
metsfan4decades
3/18/2011-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
IMO, I don’t care how the Mets spin this. If they don’t resign Reyes, it’s about money and nothing but money.
oleosmirf
3/18/2011-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
thats the point i was trying to make. Sandy made the best baseball decision in regard to 2B and im sure he will in regard to SS as well.
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
we have been around this traffic circle before.
Unless they are signing Pujols, your scenario is a financial decision. If you have to choose between Reyes and 2-3 mid tier guys, when you have at least $50mill coming off the books, then 100% you are constrained by not having enough money to do everything you need (resign Jose, + get some mid-tier guys).
anyway, if Havens cements the 2B job, they really won’t have many other holes to fill, since the SP FA class likely blows again.
TRS86
3/18/2011-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Oh no doubt money will be a factor, money is a factor for every team in MLB even the Yanks to an extent. If the Mets set the budget at 120M instead of 145M they will have to decided if Reyes at say 6/100 is worth the amount of resources. That is just baseball. Same decision the Cards are making about Pujols.
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
as to Reyes, he looks to be in fantastic shape now. So sign the guy already.
combine this with releasing Castillo and Ollie (I hope!). Really get the fans revved up, and possibly sell a few tickets to people on the fence (Cha Ching!)
and financially (for people still interested in that), even for the “too poor to afford the pot to piss in crowd” make it a very clear transaction. Castillo and slappy will be gone in 2012 (contracts), with Reyes roughly taking over Castillo’s salary (on top of his current pay).
Beltran + Ollie money can go to other players, or right into the wilpons pockets. Or hopefully into draft picks and IFAs!
wannybackstra
3/18/2011-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Sign him because he appears to be in fantastic shape in March? Really?
stickguy
3/18/2011-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
No, sign him because of his age, career (body of work), and how piss poor the SS FA class is.
The concern seemed to be wanting to see that he was in good shape. He is. So sign him.
metsfan4decades
3/18/2011-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
This.
I’m in the camp of wanting Reyes resigned. I still believe they should have done it coming out of last season.
We’ll see how this one plays out now.
Kevin B. and Keith talking about the Castillo release before the game here this afternoon. Keith implying the moping around Castillo did didn’t help his cause any.
oleosmirf
3/18/2011-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
the concern to me is his play the past 2 years. He needs to prove that 09 and 10 was solely due to injuries and that 6 years from now he can be a star player even if he doesn’t have blazing speed.
Reyes needs to prove he is more than just an athletic specimen b/c at 34 he wont be as athletic as he is now…
wannybackstra
3/18/2011-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
“The concern seemed to be wanting to see that he was in good shape. He is. So sign him.”
What? The concern was to see if he would be in good shape in March? And able to withstand the rigors of playing 3 innings every day?
metsfan4decades
3/18/2011-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
One down, one to go….
It’s about time.
metsfan4decades
3/18/2011-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
You all know as soon as they cut down to 25 and have the roster set, all stories will turn to Reyes and the controversy of will they resign him.
We’ll be swamped with stories daily, from one end of the spectrum to the other. Alderson might soon get his wish, when he commented the other day to the beat writers concerning finding something else to write about other than Perez and Castillo.
Prismo
3/18/2011-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
Watch out now, Brad Penny weighs in:
@BradPenny
Luis Castillo is a good player. I think the mets made a bad move.
Mr North Jersey
3/18/2011-1:04pm at 1:04 pm (UTC -4)
Did you see where Reyes said he found out via a text? LoL
Prismo
3/18/2011-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
He didn’t get broken up with, what’s the big deal? LOL
metsfan4decades
3/18/2011-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
Luis Castillo was a good player.
There, now that statement is fixed.
It will be interesting to see who picks up Castillo for league minimum, mostly on the Mets dime. I’ll bet he gets an offer or two.
Not unlike Beltran (who I’m reading had a cortisone shot in that knee), I think it’s the beginning of the end of Utley. Since the Phillies are admittedly tapped out payroll wise, I wonder if they’ll take a flyer on Castillo.
TRS86
3/18/2011-1:20pm at 1:20 pm (UTC -4)
I guess they could but honestly is he any better than David Eckencrappy whom would seem to fit their grittttttty personality better.
stickguy
3/18/2011-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
hell, castillo probably isn’t any better than Wilson Valdez, so why bother?
kistics
3/18/2011-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
See what TRS responded to @JoeandEvan
TRS86
@JoeandEvan maybe it’s because Castillo was one of the few Mets Penny could get out?
metsfan4decades
3/18/2011-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
I saw 2 follow up responses to Penny from a poster on AA:
BradPenny you are wrong. Luis Castillo WAS a good player. when your batting average and slugging % are the same, you are not a good player
sort of like how Brad Penny used to be a good pitcher.
kistics
3/18/2011-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
I wonder if Joe Janish feels the same way about the Mets after dumping $6M.