According to Mike Berardino, we should have had news yesterday confirming both Castillo and Lowell are signed. I haven't found any sign of that happening from the PB Post, Sun-Sentinel, or the Herald. AP, which first broke the news on Schilling, doesn't even acknowledge Berardino's original report.

 

If anybody else has any news on this, other than from Berardino, please let me know. I'll never believe another word from his Mullet Wrap.

I dont think any Articles come out on weekends. So probally i can post it on Monday.

According to Mike Berardino, we should have had news yesterday confirming both Castillo and Lowell are signed.

are you sure he didnt say as Soon as Friday?

 

because i thought thats what I read, or are you thinking of another article?

Go read today's Sun-Sentinel, an article by Berardino on Castillo and Lowell is there.

 

Personally, I have believed for a long time that in order to meet a payroll of $60 million the entire right side Lee, Enc and Castillo, plus Redman, have to go.

 

Castillo deal hits a snag, Lowell deal almost done

regret trading d lee...i like that

Can't those Cubbies and Mets drop dead yet?

Castillo won't sign anytime soon. And I see our chances of getting him less than 50%. I don't think he cares if he returns or not.

Well I'm still hoping because Luis has been with the organization from the start and it would be sad to see him leave.

Well I'm still hoping because Luis has been with the organization from the start and it would be sad to see him leave.

I think he may want to return, but he wants to see more offers on the table. I really think that he is hoping for 7+ millions a year.

I say let Castillo go. Put Cabrera at 2B. That $5 million that could've gone to Castillo would be better-spent shoring up the bullpen.

I say let Castillo go. Put Cabrera at 2B. That $5 million that could've gone to Castillo would be better-spent shoring up the bullpen.

Wtf??? Whos gonna play right then???

Leave Cabrera where he is. There are plenty of 2nd baseman available, either through free agency or trade.

I say let Castillo go. Put Cabrera at 2B. That $5 million that could've gone to Castillo would be better-spent shoring up the bullpen.

Wtf??? Whos gonna play right then???

There's a million FA available that could play RF for peanuts. Reggie Sanders at $2 million would do the trick just perfectly. They could call up Abraham Nunez and platoon him with a cheaper FA. Finding FA OFs that could match (or better) Encarnacion's performance from last year is a lot easier (and cheaper) than finding a 2B with Cabrera's stick.

Since Berardino stated that the Cubs bid came from another "industry source" (we used to call them imaginary friends), I went to the Chicago Tribune and found nothing. I did a search there on any mention of Castillo in the last 7 days - nothing.

 

So I went to the Chicago Sun-Times. The closest thing I could find is that the Cubs are backing off a little bit from Castillo and looking at an outfielder as their highest priority.

 

This is from Wednesday:

 

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/ds.../pro/261sd5.htm

I'M HATING THOSE CUBS MORE EACH DAY!! DAMN LOSERS!! :angry

I think the Marlins should have made Castillo their #1 priority and offered more money to him and less to Lowell.

If you can't beat them, sign them. . .

 

That's how the Cubs are thinking.

If you can't beat them, sign them. . .

 

That's how the Cubs are thinking.

I think it's more like..

 

"We need a good second baseman."

 

Just like it'll be

 

"I think we need a good catcher."

 

when they go after Javy and Pudge.

I think the Marlins should have made Castillo their #1 priority and offered more money to him and less to Lowell.

Why is a Braves fan posting on our site, I often ask...

 

I agree with Fish Fry above, Castillo is costing us too much money and limiting ourselves in making this team better both financially and by keeping us from going after players. I say let him go because his value is not good - he makes too much money for the amount of production he will put up. I will hate to lose him, but I am also not totally sold that he is healed.

 

If Castillo signs elsewhere, the Marlins could regret dealing first baseman Derrek Lee to the Cubs for Hee Seop Choi and a minor-leaguer on Tuesday. They made that salary dump under the impression a Castillo pact was highly likely, even pressuring Castillo for an answer in the days leading up to the trade.

 

Disagree - the Marlins made a smart move by taking on Choi's contract AND his talent is on par with Lee's. But Castillo's waffling, if we read this correctly, is hurting our organization, and it is still early. I say cut him loose, go get players you need.

I think the Marlins should have made Castillo their #1 priority and offered more money to him and less to Lowell.

 

Yeah, the Marlins should've made a mediocre 2B a priority over a top 3B who is their most productive hitter. Sure.

I say let Castillo go.? Put Cabrera at 2B.? That $5 million that could've gone to Castillo would be better-spent shoring up the bullpen.

Wtf??? Whos gonna play right then???

There's a million FA available that could play RF for peanuts. Reggie Sanders at $2 million would do the trick just perfectly. They could call up Abraham Nunez and platoon him with a cheaper FA. Finding FA OFs that could match (or better) Encarnacion's performance from last year is a lot easier (and cheaper) than finding a 2B with Cabrera's stick. I don't know about that since he has a rocket of an arm and Reggie Sanders wouldn't sign with us anyway. Leastaways give Hooper a chance.

I don't know about that since he has a rocket of an arm and Reggie Sanders wouldn't sign with us anyway. Leastaways give Hooper a chance.

 

Why wouldn't Reggie sign with the Marlins? He signed with a crappy organization like the Pirates last year. Also, Hooper hasn't earned a chance. He wasn't all that good this year.

Hooper deserves a shot, at least a ST invite - and if I remember correctly, he raised a lot of eyebrows last ST. Nunez, he had an unfortunate injury in ST last year, otherwise he would have made this team as a 5th OF - something I remember debating heavily with Keyswayne last year (he did not like Nunez).

 

Again, I think Castillo's value is not what it used to be - he is about to demand way too much money for his abilities. We could spend that money elsewhere, and I am actually quite happy to hear that we may not sign him (and that he may land on a big market club).

 

Lowell is the real deal. The most consistent hitter on this club, is not the best (anymore, that would be Cabs) but is among the top 3 3B in ALL of baseball (if not the top - and Cabs would be right there too). NO ONE IN BASEBALL AT HIS POSITION MATCHED HIS LEVEL OF PRODUCTION.

I don't think Castillo will leave for Chicago. Why would he accept essentially the same offer from two teams that finished worse than the Marlisna nd play in states with income taxes? Maybe it was an attempt by his agents to get more money. Maybe it's just Berardino.

Hooper deserves a shot, at least a ST invite - and if I remember correctly, he raised a lot of eyebrows last ST. Nunez, he had an unfortunate injury in ST last year, otherwise he would have made this team as a 5th OF - something I remember debating heavily with Keyswayne last year (he did not like Nunez).

 

Again, I think Castillo's value is not what it used to be - he is about to demand way too much money for his abilities. We could spend that money elsewhere, and I am actually quite happy to hear that we may not sign him (and that he may land on a big market club).

 

Lowell is the real deal. The most consistent hitter on this club, is not the best (anymore, that would be Cabs) but is among the top 3 3B in ALL of baseball (if not the top - and Cabs would be right there too). NO ONE IN BASEBALL AT HIS POSITION MATCHED HIS LEVEL OF PRODUCTION.

I think the fish are giving Castillo a pre deadline ultimatum. They are pressuring him to sign or they're going to make a move. The other teams going after him are more or less copying the Marlins offer. So, ...why the game? Probably trying to squeeze as much as possible out of this situation. Who could blame them? But, if I read this situation correctly, Castillo's agents are close to shutting the door on the fish, only to eventually wind up signing the same deal with someone else, just to keep the options open. I doubt if that's what Luis wants, and I suspect that's what he's pondering on his DR trip. He wants to sign and his agents are telling him to wait, and the Marlins are saying if you wait much longer we'll have to pull the trigger on another deal, probably involving some other key players.

 

Thanks for remembering about Nunez. I still think the same thing I did last year. He's not major league material, and never will be. He just doesn't have the head for the game, and isn't quite gifted enough to pull it off.

 

BTW, I don't know if Hooper is the answer, but there are MANY viable alternatives at substantially cheaper rates. I think the Marlins brass are very well aware of this and are pretty much playing a PR game for us fans. They have to act like they're fighting to resign some of these fan favorites so the "D" word doesn't start popping up. (except in LeBatard articles)