Castillo Wanted to Stay

December 3, 200520 yr

Gold Glover Castillo wanted to stay in Florida

By Juan C. Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Posted December 3 2005

He survived demotions. He survived trade discussions. He survived free agency.

Part of Luis Castillo didn't think this would be any different. Mike Lowell would be gone, so would Carlos Delgado, Josh Beckett and others, but Castillo still envisioned himself on that same Dolphins Stadium diamond where he became a star.

"I felt like I was at home," Castillo said.

Consider him evicted.

Friday, Castillo became the latest Marlin peddled to another club for financial relief. The Minnesota Twins acquired Castillo for two minor-league right-handers, the hard-throwing Travis Bowyer and Class-A prospect Scott Tyler.

Castillo's departure will save the Marlins no less than $5.5 million and as much as $10.75 million through 2007. The Marlins are responsible for a deferred $2 million signing bonus payable at the end of the deal.

"I wanted to finish my contract here," said Castillo, who nearly became a New York Met when he was a free agent two offseasons ago. "When I signed here I took less money because I wanted to be a Florida Marlin. I thought I would finish my career here, but we couldn't do it. ... I can't tell you I feel good about leaving."

This move arguably resonated deeper among Marlins loyalists than the previous deals that sent Delgado to the Mets, and Lowell and Beckett to the Red Sox. Castillo signed with the organization eight months before the Marlins played their inaugural game.

A three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, Castillo made his major league debut for the Marlins in 1996 and has been a fixture at second since 1999.

"It affects you a little because I felt like I had my home here," said Castillo, who owns the single-season franchise record for highest batting average (.334 in 2000). "In this business, you have to take the bad with the good."

With Castillo gone, the Marlins can focus on jettisoning catcher Paul Lo Duca ($6.25 million), lefty Ron Villone ($2 million) and arbitration-eligible center fielder Juan Pierre, who's 2006 salary should top the $4.5 million mark.

The Lo Duca market should intensify once free agents Ramon Hernandez, Bengie Molina and Brad Ausmus sign. The Yankees are willing to take Pierre if the Marlins relinquish the notion of acquiring Robinson Cano or Chien-Ming Wang. According to the Newark Star Ledger, the Yankees are willing to part with pitchers Hayden Penn and Scott Proctor for Pierre.

"Yankees, that's where I think he winds up," said one major league scout who's spoken to both teams. "It's a Yankees or Cubs proposition."

The Marlins like the makeup of the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Bowyer, enough for General Manager Admin Beinfest to consider him closer material. What he doesn't possess is a well-developed repertoire.

Bowyer's fastball can reach triple digits and he consistently throws in the 95- to 97-mph range. His slider is sub-par. Though he struck out 19 and walked two in 151/3 innings with Grand Canyon in the Arizona Fall League, the 24-year-old Bowyer also went 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA.

"There's big arm strength there, but there's not much life on the fastball," said one big-league talent evaluator. "He can light up a radar gun, that's for sure. They talk about the slider, but it's more of a cement mixer than a real good slider."

The Twins' 2001 second-round pick out of Downington (Pa.) High School, the 6-5, 267-pound Tyler just completed his first season at Class A Fort Myers, where he went 7-8 with a 3.95 ERA, 48 walks and 109 strikeouts in 1181/3 innings (23 starts).

Despite a low-90s fastball, coupled with a biting curve and evolving changeup, Tyler should start the season at Double-A Carolina.

Quote