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Free agent Castillo widens search

Daily News, New York

Nov. 27, 2003

 

 

NEW YORK - New York Mets brass huddled with the Levinson brothers on Monday night to discuss free agent second baseman Luis Castillo, but the sides could not reach a quick agreement.

 

Sources said the Mets made a "competitive" offer for the former Marlin, but that the proposal wouldn't trump the three-year (plus an option), $15.5 million deal that Florida has already put on the table.

 

Now it appears that Castillo will widen his search to include teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs.

 

Once Japanese free agent Kaz Matsui finds a home, Castillo will likely be even more coveted.

 

Some teams are hoping to move Matsui from shortstop to second base.

 

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If this is true then the decision to sign is coming up real soon? I guess we better hope Kaz signs with someone after we sign Luis.

Alright, I am confused. If Castillo is "set" to sign with us, why does this article say that he's searching for more options?

He is going for the big bucks.

 

Why should he sign now? I think he will delay and sign to the highest bidder later.

I got it from the New York post but I think they are bs us because the Cubs don't need a second basemen and the Yankees and the Red Sox are higher on Kaz Matsui any how. Maybe New York is just tryin to compete with the Sun Sentinel.

Alright, I am confused. If Castillo is "set" to sign with us, why does this article say that he's searching for more options?

For one thing you have to consider the source of the information that Castillo is "set" to sign. It was Berardino. He's on the outs with the Marlins, and has no dependable source of info there, so he's always quoted unknown baseball sources, and is frequently wrong. Very frequently.

 

I don't know why more people aren't catching on the the fact that Berardino is a lousy reporter. Just because someone can get an article published doesn't mean he always knows what he's talking about. I repeat, he frequently doesn't.

 

At any rate, there is no advantage for Castillo to sign until he has to. Unless the fish attach an ultimatum deadline prior to Dec 7th he can continue to gauge the market, and even if he wants to stay, he can weigh that into his negotiations. If the Sox and the Yankees both want him, someone will overpay.

 

This is the kind of situation where a player's agent sometimes overplays his hand and winds up closing the door on the team the player reallywants to play with, for a few more dollars. I really don't see Luis thriving in the big apple, and he's probalby not an ideal leadoff man for Fenway, especially if you already have Johnny Damon.

Thanks Keyswayne.

Alright, I am confused. If Castillo is "set" to sign with us, why does this article say that he's searching for more options?

For one thing you have to consider the source of the information that Castillo is "set" to sign. It was Berardino. He's on the outs with the Marlins, and has no dependable source of info there, so he's always quoted unknown baseball sources, and is frequently wrong. Very frequently.

 

I don't know why more people aren't catching on the the fact that Berardino is a lousy reporter. Just because someone can get an article published doesn't mean he always knows what he's talking about. I repeat, he frequently doesn't.

 

At any rate, there is no advantage for Castillo to sign until he has to. Unless the fish attach an ultimatum deadline prior to Dec 7th he can continue to gauge the market, and even if he wants to stay, he can weigh that into his negotiations. If the Sox and the Yankees both want him, someone will overpay.

 

This is the kind of situation where a player's agent sometimes overplays his hand and winds up closing the door on the team the player reallywants to play with, for a few more dollars. I really don't see Luis thriving in the big apple, and he's probalby not an ideal leadoff man for Fenway, especially if you already have Johnny Damon. Yes, I agree. Another indication is why would the Marlins give Castillo a 4th year option if he was 'close' to signing? The Marlins had to up the deal to make it more competitive for what Castillo is looking for. He is the best (stastically) 2B on the market. We are going to have to pay for it - I am not sure this is good value, but we will see. But yes, Castillo may be closer to signing with us, but this is not a done deal - yet. I do think he will sign sooner rather than later. People may begin to speculate about his hip and drive his price down at ANY given moment.

all this is obvious, of course, but i'll say it anyway:

when you're in contract negotiations, you go and get a deal set with one team, THEN you go around and sell yourself to the other teams. that way you push your own team to give you a better offer and you can get better offers from both teams.

 

it's usually best to sign later, rather than earlier. i'd expect castillo to wait, especially considering how badly he apparently doesn't want to be a marlin.

 

I do think he will sign sooner rather than later. People may begin to speculate about his hip and drive his price down at ANY given moment.

everything about his hip is known, and no new speculation would drive his price down unless he were to re-injure himself, which is kinda impossible at the moment. the only way waiting could hurt him would be if some of his potential suitors went ahead and signed other 2B's off of the market. even if that happens, a team isn't going to "retract" an offer thats already on the table (e.g. marlins), so it's really in his best interest to wait this one out and spark a bidding war. the hip has nothing to do with whether or not he should wait.

all this is obvious, of course, but i'll say it anyway:

when you're in contract negotiations, you go and get a deal set with one team, THEN you go around and sell yourself to the other teams. that way you push your own team to give you a better offer and you can get better offers from both teams.

 

Gotcha. See, I never really understood the whole signing business until now. It looks complicated and I tend to separate myself from complicated business things.

Gotcha. See, I never really understood the whole signing business until now. It looks complicated and I tend to separate myself from complicated business things.

same here :whistle

business is a complicated field.

all this is obvious, of course, but i'll say it anyway:

when you're in contract negotiations, you go and get a deal set with one team, THEN you go around and sell yourself to the other teams.? that way you push your own team to give you a better offer and you can get better offers from both teams.

 

Gotcha. See, I never really understood the whole signing business until now. It looks complicated and I tend to separate myself from complicated business things. Yeah, well, if you understand it now, you're one up on me, and most of the people I know who follow this game. It's such a complicated process that I don't think anyone really understands it. There are a lot of rules that are hard to keep up with, but beyond that you have players egos, owners egos, and agents greed all thrown into the mix.

 

Meanwhile, fans talk about things like loyalty, and home town discounts, which are largely concepts left over from high school sports associations, and have little or nothing to do with the business of Major League baseball.

 

Not to worry, anybody who claims to undertand this process is whistling in the dark.

I agree Keys, this is not by any means a simple process. But I think it is safe to say, and yes - fairly obvious alkazoid - that Castillo is driving up his price. He is not doing to re-sign with us though, so dont fool yourself. His agents are pricing him out of our range if they can.

 

Here is an older article from Chicago Sun Times which mentions their contact with Castillo:

 

BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter Advertisement

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cubs have contacted the agents for free-agent second basemen Mark Grudzielanek, Luis Castillo and Fernando Vina -- and general manager Jim Hendry was able to do that with only one call. Brothers Seth and Sam Levinson represent all three.

 

While Grudzielanek had a gutsy season for the Cubs in 2003, Castillo or Vina might fit the lineup better. The Cubs need a leadoff hitter because even if Kenny Lofton re-signs, it presumably would be in a reserve role, subbing for both center fielder Corey Patterson and left fielder Moises Alou.

 

Grudzielanek is a right-handed hitter, Castillo is a switch hitter and Vina is a left-handed hitter. That might make Castillo or Vina even more attractive as players who can ignite the top of the batting order.

 

"We'll have to see what fits best,'' Hendry said.

 

Hendry also is looking to upgrade his bullpen for the second consecutive offseason. National reports have had the Cubs interested in free-agent left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, but that's nothing more than Hendry inquiring into as many lefties as possible.

 

Left-hander Mike Remlinger will be back for the second year of a three-year contract, but he didn't have the kind of dominant season in 2003 that the Cubs expected.

 

"Besides the bullpen, we are still trying to decide what to do at second and looking at extra infielders,'' Hendry said.

 

Hendry said he doesn't envision making another trade soon, though the deal for Derrek Lee came up overnight. He looks for action to heat up during the winter meetings, which begin Dec. 12 in New Orleans.

I love Luis, I really do. Personally I had hoped he'd wind up in St Louis and get a chance to play out the rest of his career with his best friend Edgar Renteria.

 

Luis is a fabulous 2b guy, even if he's slowed (especially to his right) a step or two since surgery. But at anything north of $5.5 mil per it's time for the team and Luis to part ways. And if you shoved me into a corner and may be fess up I'd say he isn't worth that. In the longrun it's in the team's best interest, I believe, to use those $$$ to acquire more run production. As much as our GM says pitching wins games, we need to score more runs, plain and simple. Re-sign Pudge and move on. Go get the best 2b prospect in the minors, take a chance on Walker if you've got a gun at your head, or maybe trade for Hart or some other promising rookie 2b guy but don't get into a bidding war with three big market teams.

 

In the same way I wasn't unhappy to see Lee depart because I don't believe, no matter how good the D, he saved the team that many runs, I feel the same about Luis' defense. We have just a god awful schedule next season ending with 10 games away. The chances of us repeating are long statistically anyways, teams almost never repeat and the schedule makes the odds even higher.

 

Next year should be a year for us to experiment, to build a new and improved core group of players. To see if AJ can really come back. To see exactly how good Miguel Cabrera can be in a full season.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to give the impression I've already given up on the season, the opposite is true, I believe we'll be capable of contending throughout the entire summer, and we might find ourselves chasing a wildcard berth again, but for myself I would like to see Choi and a new 2b guy (as well as RF) and see what they can do under the tutelege of our coaches.

 

That's part of baseball isn't? I know the prevailing thought is improving through free agency but theres something grand about watching a kid break-out and become something specials, like Cabs this year.

 

So if the Cubs or Sox or Mets wind up with Luis in a bidding war I say so be it. It's just part of baseball. The only thing that upsets me about the Cubs is having to endure a barrage of insults from arrogant, obnoxious Cubs fans, a blight on everything good about baseball.

There is no run production if the guys at the top aren't getting on base...

There is no run production if the guys at the top aren't getting on base...

So I guess that means Pierre, Cabs, Lowell and Pudge aren't enough at the top of the lineup?

Sounds more like a shakedown than any serious interest in joining the Cubs or Mets.

Sounds more like a shakedown than any serious interest in joining the Cubs or Mets.

 

And we can't afford to do that because it sends the wrong message #1 to Pudge and Boras and #2 to every other GM and agent in baseball.

I love Luis, I really do. Personally I had hoped he'd wind up in St Louis and get a chance to play out the rest of his career with his best friend Edgar Renteria.

 

Luis is a fabulous 2b guy, even if he's slowed (especially to his right) a step or two since surgery. But at anything north of $5.5 mil per it's time for the team and Luis to part ways. And if you shoved me into a corner and may be fess up I'd say he isn't worth that. In the longrun it's in the team's best interest, I believe, to use those $$$ to acquire more run production. As much as our GM says pitching wins games, we need to score more runs, plain and simple. Re-sign Pudge and move on. Go get the best 2b prospect in the minors, take a chance on Walker if you've got a gun at your head, or maybe trade for Hart or some other promising rookie 2b guy but don't get into a bidding war with three big market teams.

 

In the same way I wasn't unhappy to see Lee depart because I don't believe, no matter how good the D, he saved the team that many runs, I feel the same about Luis' defense. We have just a god awful schedule next season ending with 10 games away. The chances of us repeating are long statistically anyways, teams almost never repeat and the schedule makes the odds even higher.

 

Next year should be a year for us to experiment, to build a new and improved core group of players. To see if AJ can really come back. To see exactly how good Miguel Cabrera can be in a full season.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to give the impression I've already given up on the season, the opposite is true, I believe we'll be capable of contending throughout the entire summer, and we might find ourselves chasing a wildcard berth again, but for myself I would like to see Choi and a new 2b guy (as well as RF) and see what they can do under the tutelege of our coaches.

 

That's part of baseball isn't? I know the prevailing thought is improving through free agency but theres something grand about watching a kid break-out and become something specials, like Cabs this year.

 

So if the Cubs or Sox or Mets wind up with Luis in a bidding war I say so be it. It's just part of baseball. The only thing that upsets me about the Cubs is having to endure a barrage of insults from arrogant, obnoxious Cubs fans, a blight on everything good about baseball.

I disagree with you on the 'next year should be an experimentation year'.

 

We need to focus on getting the Division next year. If this team was able to win the WC after an awful start and no AJ on the rotation. Imagine what we could do with AJ and Trader Jack from day one. I think we could win 100 games.

 

We have the best damn starting rotation on the NL East. I don't see how can the Phillies or the Braves do any better than us on that department. I believe the Braves will be a weaker team. And if the Phillies go on a shopping spree but do not address their starting pitching, they aren't gonna do any better than last year.

The Marlins won in part because they brought up Willis and Cabrera and so I'm suggesting that giving Choi and maybe a new 2B guy is not the worst thing in the world to do.

 

I said we'd be competitive, I said we'd be trying to grab another wildcard berth, whether we win 91 or 101 I believe we'll do well again next season. It would be great to lead from start to finish, pretty much like the Braves seem to do perrenially, but I agree the Braves do seem to be weakening incrementally every year.

 

The Phillies on the otherhand, opening a new stadium and all, seem the most disconcerting. If Burrel gets it together and as you say they get some pitching, they can be very torubleseome.

 

What concerns me is a schedule that starts on the road and ends with a 10 game roadtrip. We have the equivalent of Philly's schedule last season. That is what I fear will be our undoing.

 

I hope I'm wrong.

The Marlins won in part because they brought up Willis and Cabrera and so I'm suggesting that giving Choi and maybe a new 2B guy is not the worst thing in the world to do.

 

I said we'd be competitive, I said we'd be trying to grab another wildcard berth, whether we win 91 or 101 I believe we'll do well again next season. It would be great to lead from start to finish, pretty much like the Braves seem to do perrenially, but I agree the Braves do seem to be weakening incrementally every year.

 

The Phillies on the otherhand, opening a new stadium and all, seem the most disconcerting. If Burrel gets it together and as you say they get some pitching, they can be very torubleseome.

 

What concerns me is a schedule that starts on the road and ends with a 10 game roadtrip. We have the equivalent of Philly's schedule last season. That is what I fear will be our undoing.

 

I hope I'm wrong.

You know, I was looking at the schedule and I was happy to see that we won't be making the trip to hell (west) so late in the season. We will be at pac bell and coors on April and beggining of May.

count the Yankees out. They signed Sheff which means they cant move Soriano to the outfield which means they dont need a 2B.

 

 

Im pretty sure it will boil down to the Cubs. There are a few theories floating around about them one of which is to delay our negotiations with Pudge so they can get him starting the 7th.

btw, I also feel we have a nice interleague schedule.

 

Cleveland, Detroit, and Devil Rays on the road (I don't think it can't be any better)

White Sox, Rangers (@ home)

 

In addition, Expos will be a weaker team and the Metz are the Metz.

count the Yankees out. They signed Sheff which means they cant move Soriano to the outfield which means they dont need a 2B.

 

 

Im pretty sure it will boil down to the Cubs. There are a few theories floating around about them one of which is to delay our negotiations with Pudge so they can get him starting the 7th.

OMG that sounds soo on the money.

 

i don't know where you get this stuff but you're good.

count the Yankees out. They signed Sheff which means they cant move Soriano to the outfield which means they dont need a 2B.

 

 

Im pretty sure it will boil down to the Cubs. There are a few theories floating around about them one of which is to delay our negotiations with Pudge so they can get him starting the 7th.

OMG that sounds soo on the money.

 

i don't know where you get this stuff but you're good. That's why you tell Luis that you are going after Pudge, and move on if no deal is reached within the next 24-36 hours.