This should bring a smile to many faces on this board.

 

Castillo, Lowell set to return in 2004

 

By Mike Berardino

Staff Writer

Posted November 27 2003

 

Two huge pieces of the Marlins' retooling project are about to fall into place.

 

According to two National League sources, the Marlins were closing in on a deal Wednesday to keep free-agent second baseman Luis Castillo. Only a few minor details remained before the three-year, $15.5 million deal would become official.

 

It could be announced as soon as Friday, once Castillo returns from a trip to the Dominican Republic.

 

A vesting option for 2007 could push the total value of the contract to $21.5 million over four years. The option automatically kicks in if Castillo reaches a minimum number of plate appearances over the next three seasons.

 

Meanwhile, a source close to third baseman Mike Lowell said the Marlins have already reached agreement on a four-year contract that includes a stadium-related escape clause. Terms weren't known, but it's likely in the $36 million to $40 million range.

 

Castillo and Lowell are represented by the Brooklyn-based Levinson brothers, who did not return phone messages. Neither player will receive no-trade protection, sources said.

 

Castillo, 28, has averaged more than 650 plate appearances the past three seasons. He has hit at least .300 in four of the past five seasons and recently won his first Rawlings Gold Glove.

 

The Marlins made their initial offer to Castillo nearly three weeks ago, but only added the fourth-year vesting option Tuesday. That came shortly after the New York Mets offered Castillo a three-year deal worth about $15 million.

 

Because Florida lacks a state income tax and New York's is 9.05 percent for those in Castillo's income bracket, the Mets' offer was effectively about $2 million short of the Marlins' for the next three seasons.

 

Industry sources said the Mets purposely lowballed Castillo because they actually would prefer to sign Japanese middle infielder Kazuo Matsui.

 

With Castillo and Lowell coming back, and Derrek Lee traded to Chicago this week for Korean first baseman Hee Seop Choi, the Marlins' front office has completed most of its heavy lifting for the offseason.

 

With an approved payroll of no more than $60 million, the Marlins were able to slice about $7 million with the Lee trade. It would have cost about $88 million to keep the World Series champions intact.

 

Further savings should come when the club non-tenders right fielder Juan Encarnacion and reliever Braden Looper on Dec. 20. Encarnacion, who would otherwise make about $5.5 million in arbitration, and Looper (projected $4.2 million) have drawn no serious trade interest thus far.

 

Free-agent closer Ugueth Urbina, who made $4.5 million last year, also is a long shot to return, but the Marlins continue to hope setup man Chad Fox will re-sign. To fill out their bullpen, the Marlins could go bargain hunting in January with former closers Jose Jimenez (Colorado) and Mike DeJean (Milwaukee) among the possible low-cost targets.

 

The biggest remaining question mark is free-agent catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who is currently touring the Caribbean on his yacht. Early discussions with the Rodriguez camp have been fruitless, and a Dec. 7 deadline looms because the Marlins are contractually prohibited from offering salary arbitration to the National League playoff MVP.

 

If Rodriguez returns, 14-game winner Mark Redman should expect to be traded, according to sources that have gauged the Marlins' plans. Should Rodriguez leave, backup Ramon Castro could take over as the everyday catcher and the starting rotation would return untouched.

 

Link to SS article in tomorrow's paper

ohhhhhhhh BABY

Friday's my birthday and there would be NO greater present than to have Castillo and or Lowell return

 

GREAT news...

Be-you-ti-full!

WOOT!

Why so much for Mikey?

Great news. A sign this team will be together for a while.

Why so much for Mikey?

quiet you

Why so much for Mikey?

shhh

YEAH!!!! wooo

very informative :thumbup so far so good

 

now that we most likely have mikey and luiey out of the way, pudge is next *sigh* this one is gonna be hard to figure out, dec. 7's not far :confused

Beinfest seems to be doing everything right...I'd be amazed if he pulled off a deal where we get something for Enc/Loop.

My friend just got pissed at me because i woke him up at midnight by calling him to tell him about this.

My friend just got pissed at me because i woke him up at midnight by calling him to tell him about this.

:lol :lol :lol

Oh no the firesalre has begun....

I like the fact that neither player got a no-trade clause. It's nice to have that flexibility - you never know what'll happen in four years.

Great news. . .

 

LCastillo,

looks like you won't have to change your name after all. . .

It will be interesting to see the final numbers. If Mikey gets 36, or 40 it will hurt us on who may be here next. I think we can kiss Pudge and Vlad goodbye.

36-40 million for 4 years is WAY too much for lowell. i guess he didn't give us a "home town discount," though i don't blame him since he didn't get a no-trade clause.

 

pudge rodriguez is effectively gone now. we can't afford him unless we nuke the bullpen and perhaps another starter.

 

not trading DLee to the orioles made it even easier for them to accommodate pudge.

Why so much for Mikey?

Berardino made that number up. He never lets the facts get in the way of a good story. I'll be surprised if it tops $30 mil, and then it will be with several stipulations. It won't be guaranteed. But who cares? It's great news.

 

But let's not forget that Berardino has no inside source on the Marlins. He's been blackballed, and frequently gets it wrong. His "sources" are from somewhere other than this organization, and anything he writes should be taken with a grain of salt.

wohah, I didn't notice the 36-40 million for Lowell...ouch.

 

heres some stuff from rotoworld we already know:

 

The Marlins are believed to be closing in on a deal to keep free agent Luis Castillo.

Two National League sources told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that only a few minor details remained before the three-year, $15.5 million deal with an option for 2007 would become official. Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

A source close to Mike Lowell told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that the Marlins and the third baseman have already reached agreement on a four-year contract that includes a stadium-related escape clause.

The deal is believed to be worth $36 million-$40 million, which is an awful lot for someone with a career OPS of 812. If the Marlins get both Lowell and Luis Castillo locked up, their big remaining decision will be whether to re-sign Ivan Rodriguez. Juan Encarnacion and Braden Looper are expected to be non-tendered, so there still could be room for Rodriguez, though it may mean Mark Redman or another starter would have to be traded. If Rodriguez leaves, the rotation can be left untouched and the Marlins will have more to spend on a closer.

It would have to be for Enc and Redman....but we'll see. Beinfest got a super stud 1B from a player we were getting low balled for (Baltimore)

Let's say the O's do not get Vlad. Encarnacion would be a perfect fit for them, we could probably get a pretty good trade because they will be desperate. Maybe we could get Riley, and another one of their good pitching prospects.

 

*I accidentally hit delete when I meant to hit edit. lol

Wooohoooo. Hopefully this all gets done by Friday. That would make for a great start to the weekend.

 

Yeah i think thats relatively high for Mike Lowell I think its maybe a little less maybe 32mil or something like that. If not could it be a five-year deal for 40mil?

I hope they can package a deal with Carny and Redman too get some prospects or maybe some relievers.