Deal with it Mets fans. They say where there’s smoke there’s fire, and right now there is an inferno raging where Luis Castillo is concerned.
Debating whether Luis Castillo should stay or go has been a fun and interesting exercise for Mets fans lately, but the fact of the matter is we have no say in determining Castillo’s home field next season. Those who do have a say have made it perfectly clear by their actions and the information they are intentionally leaking to the press.
Since last week, the buzz from the rumor mill has been that the Mets have their sights set on free agents Orlando Hudson and Chone Figgins.
Regarding Figgins, Joel Sherman of the NY Post wrote,
Though they are fixated on adding a power bat such as Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, the Mets are in the words of an involved party “absolutely in” on free agent Chone Figgins.
Jerry Manuel is a huge supporter of going after Figgins. He sees Figgins’ speed as a huge asset, specifically at big Citi Field. He thinks Figgins’ versatility would help the Mets if they had another spate of injuries. And he believes that Figgins could serve as a top-of-the-order influence on Reyes.
Today, Adam Rubin of the Daily News adds more clarity to the matter of trading Luis Castillo.
Trying to rid themselves of an ill-advised contract, the Mets shopped Luis Castillo during the GM Meetings that concluded Wednesday. Still, despite the veteran second baseman hitting .302 this season and staying healthy, GM Omar Minaya may have a difficult time moving Castillo.
The Chicago Tribune reported the Cubs are interested in Castillo and are attempting to rope in a third team such as Tampa Bay or Texas as a way of finding a landing spot for Milton Bradley. Moving Castillo would open second base to Hudson, who again is a free agent. The Mets also have expressed interest in Chone Figgins, who is represented by the same agents as Castillo and David Wright. Figgins would provide solid defense in left field, although he wouldn’t address the team’s power deficiency. The Mets reportedly may be interested in using Figgins at second base.
The talk about who the Mets should get to replace Luis Castillo is valid. Last off season, Omar Minaya on several occasions adamantly stated that Luis Castillo would not be traded. This offseason however, he has made no such assurances to his second baseman. The fact that Castillo was nearly close to becoming a Cub is now no surprise, and there’s still a chance that it may get done sooner rather than later.
The question now becomes who will play second base for the New York Mets in 2010?
We now know that Orlando Hudson and Chone Figgins are clearly in the mix, and yesterday fellow MMO writer Phil Hoops, mentioned the Reds’ Brandon Phillips who could be part of a major housecleaning and payroll trimming in Cincinnati. Another option could include Detroit’s Placido Polanco. Interestingly, both Polanco and Hudson won gold gloves for their stellar defense at second base.
What I find to be most curious about this entire situation is this,
With all the other areas of concern this team needs to address, isn’t it peculiar that they would begin the off season by focusing on the one area that was actually pretty good in 2009? In fact, another of our writers, Jessep, wrote an appropriately titled post, “Quit Focusing on 2B!” Unfortunately, Omar Minaya has never looked to a blog for advice, and he’ll go on doing whatever he and his trimmed down posse of advisers want to do.
All we can do is debate the merits of it.
If I had to rank the options in my order of preference, I would do so like this:
1. Chone Figgins 2. Brandon Phillips 3. Placido Polanco 4. Orlando Hudson
It’s not that I don’t like Orlando Hudson, it’s that I no longer see him as that much of an upgrade to Castillo. As for my first three choices, they would appear to be major weapons in their own right and significant upgrades to Castillo. Figgins plays a several different defensive positions and his offense is unquestioned. He led the league in walks last season, batted .298 with a .398 OBP, scored 114 runs, and stole 42 bases.
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What Chone Figgins brings is grit, playoff experience, a good glove and bat. Thanks to Castillo for a great year. It takes a real baseball player to suffer what he went through two seasons ago, including the infamous dropped ball and having an awesome season. Figgins and Molina would be great moral boosters for the Mets.
Like it or not???? Silly question, got to LOVE IT!!! For all the #’s, Castillo wasn’t all that great, especially with the glove. 3 words: Smoke and Mirrors. That’s how you explain Castillo staying healthy and putting up decent stats. Give me a character guy like Hudson or Figgins who can actually get it done in the field as well. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Luis.
Hudson got it done by losing his starting job……….
I’m not against trading him to get something in return, but why so much talk about getting rid of him when 2nd base is the bottom of the list of priorities makes me shake my head…………
I think it is a priority because luis castillo has a high value right now and the mets would be smart to trade him, and bring in some character like Orlando Hudson. Part of the problem of 2007 and 2008 was the chemistry of the team, and hudson is a great person, a hard worker, smart baseball player, and would help the team as much in the clubhouse as on the field. That is why 2nd base is higher on the list
JIM B & HOJO, LET ME QUOTE HOJ HERE,”It’s not that I don’t like Orlando Hudson, it’s that I no longer see him as that much of an upgrade to Castillo. As for my first three choices, they would appear to be major weapons in their own right and significant upgrades to Castillo. Figgins plays a several different defensive positions and his offense is unquestioned. He led the league in walks last season, batted .298 with a .398 OBP, scored 114 runs, and stole 42 bases”
AFTER ALL OF THAT TORRE STILL ‘BENCHED’ HIM AS STARTING 2B IN FAVOR OF CEMENT HANDED & INCONSISTANT BELLIARD!
HAS TORRE BENN DERAILED OR JUMPED THE SHARK? NO ONE ADDRESSES WHY THAT OCCURRED; BUT DOESN’T IS SHOUT A HUGE, “BEWARE,CAUTION!”?
Smoke and Mirrors??? That’s the stuff of Broadway and a magic show — doesn’t have anything to do with decent stats on a baseball field. It allows fans to fantasize in a newspaper.
Hojo – Your post pretty much sums it up. I’d be very happy with either Figgins or Phillips, and the acquisition of each player carries a benefit.
In Figgins case, we can leave our farm system untouched and add a whirling dervish on the front end of the batting order.
In Phillips case, he’d cost us bona fide talent, but talent that we may never use anyway. His primary benefit is his durability and power from the right side at, traditionally, a non-power position. His addition could make it possible for us to make a run at Carl Crawford in the 2010 offseason, depending upon what type of power we get from first base, etc…
the only Castillo goes is by exchanging his terrible contract for another. Pierre,Burrell,Soriano,Mathews,so don’t say good bye just yet.
I think ur right I think they trade Castillo for Pierre, heyman said in si.com that the Dodgers called the mets about castillo.
I think they bring in Pierre for LF, Hudson for 2b, Molina to C, Glaus in a tatis role/insurance policy at 1b, a RP, Wolf or Pinello to replace pelfrey and i think there big move is Halliday, i think they trade for him.
I don’t see them giving Matt holliday or Jason Bay 5 yrs or more with several needs for this team.
I don’t see them giving Chucky figs 5 yrs and 10 mil a year.
Don’t see them giving 5 years plus for Lackey when the yankees will be involved.
I see Hudson at 2 yrs for 4 mil per.
I see Castillo getting traded to the Dodgers for Juan Pierre who has 2 years left. Pierre plays LF.
1 see the Mets signing a RP probably a LHP like Joe Biemel for about 1.5 to 2 million a year.
I see the Mets signing Troy Glaus to a 1 year 1 million deal to play a Tatis role or a big insurance policy at 1b incase Murphy can’t hit, my personal opinion is he becomes the 1b.
Bengie Molina for 2 yrs to C
They sign Randy Wolf or Joel Pineillo to replace Mike Pelfrey in the rotation.
There big move comes when they trade for Roy Halliday, they give up Pelfrey, Martinez, Mejjia and either SS Flores/Tejada to get Halliday, I think he signs a 4-5 year deal for the same money Santana makes. However many years Santana has left on his mets contract is what i think the mets sign Halliday for.
I think we should play Cleon Jones in left and Ken Boswell at 2nd
If I where the Omar… I would do this:
Sign: Randy Wolf & Jason Marquis or Joel Pinero
Sign: Matt Holliday or Trade: Parnell, Neise and Murphy for Crawford
Trade: Ike Davis,Mike Pelfrey and F. Mart for Adrian Gonzalez
Trade: Castillo & Maine for Brandon Phillips (Salary Dump for Reds) or Trade: Castillo for Pierre (only if you sign Holliday) Use Piere as 4th OF which makes Pagan expendable, then sign O-Husdon
Sign rod barodjas for 1 yr until thole is ready
or
Sign Delgado & Sheets to incentive laden deals. delgado is stop gap for Ike davis
sign: Wolf or Marquis and Lackey
Trade: FMart, Pelfrey, and murphy or Pagan for carl crawford