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…from what i can gather, yes, the Mets liked David Eckstein, a lot, but he is seeking a deal that will pay him roughly $3 million more per season than the team actually gave to Luis Castillo…frankly, i don’t think eckstein will get that type of contract, especially since the White 
Sox, one of his rumored suitors, just acquired Orlando Cabrera from the Angels…however, if the Mets believe castillo is healthy, and know for fact that he works well with Jose Reyes, can bat second, and can handle new york, and see him as more affordable right now, then i understand them pouncing on him, even if he is their second choice…
…my gut kept telling me that eckstein would be the better option, but only from a minimal, qualitative point of view, and since i fear both of these guys in the last two years of a four-year deal, i’m glad the team chose castillo, since he’ll likely earn less down the road, meaning it’ll be easier to cut or trade him if need be…
…also, i can’t help but wonder how the wining-and-dining of eckstein may or may not have impacted the type of deal castillo was willing to accept…i mean, if castillo really wanted to be on the Mets, as he said he did at the end of the season, and then he sensed the team going in a different direction, did that act as urgent-motivation for him to sign with the Mets at a lower price…
…as i have stated over and over again, his knees continue to be my biggest concern…i love his disciplined at-bats, and he’s beyond slick in the field, and he plays hard…but those knees, man…when he slides in to second, he gets up looking like my grandfather…however, as a reader from North Carolina pointed out to me, the Marlins announcers were recently talking about castillo on air, and stated that he has always appeared to be in pain like this, dating as far back as his rookie season, yet he has never missed any significant time…so, basically, his hobbling around is nothing new…
Lastly, according to Baseball Reference, at this point in his career, Castillo is playing most similar to Willie Randolph, who hit .305 with seven HR and 25 stolen bases at age 33, which is how old Castillo will be at the start of next season.
…thanks to jon b from new york for the link…
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I can see it now: Gotay ends up getting traded and he hits over
.300 and plays a good second base in his mid 20’s.
I do like Castillo, but man he can’t hit the ball over an outfielder’s head–I know that’s not his job, but still–it’s real weird to watch.
You can see that? I’m surprised because from that assesmsnt you’ve obviously never seen Gotay play.
I believe I remember hearing that his knee issue only affects him when he suddenly starts and stops. Once he’s running, it’s not an issue. So if he’s on first and someone hits a ball in the gap, he can round the bases and score without any problems. It’s almost like Pedro’s toe. It’s just something that he has to deal with, but it’s not something that is considered degenerative or very serious.
when Louis goes on the DL in may, Gotay will come in and hit .378 with 14 HRs. Then in August, he’ll sit when Louis returns and drag-bunts the Mets out of contention.
I wouldn’t go that far, but I hear what you’re saying. I’m still confused (I’m not that bright), why didn’t we give Gotay the opportunity to win the 2B job?
1. there is no guarantee that eckstein will be a good 2b. luis is very good (several gold-gloves that were deserves). few errors last year despite a bit less range.
2. castillo is a better offensive player. better avg, obs, ops over the years. more speed and actually younger despite pain in the knee. hits very well at shea
3. neither is worth 4 years, but unfortunately that’s the market. $3m a year less is $12m over life of contract. as long as it doesn’t prevent spending on pitching…contract is not a big problem
Agreed. Offensively, Eckstein is a shorter, speedier version of Paul LoDuca, and no one’s certain he’d be fantastic at second base. If he doesn’t bat .300 he has questionable value in the lineup (see: LoDuca). And it’s strange that a guy hitting in front of Albert Pujols can’t score 100 runs, dontcha think?
Castillo takes pitches, draws walks, steals bases, and can turn a mean DP — all on those bad knees. To me, there’s no contest.
I like Gotay a lot!! He has some serious skills, but if he is going to be traded in a deal for a #1 or #2 pitcher…see ya….Ill take a Castillo/Easley 2nd base semi platoon.
I hope other teams see him as valuable, because if they don’t, he’ll be one of those throw in in a trade.
I like Eckstein, but if Castillo is the second choice, and he’ll sign now, I would rather do that, rather than have this whole thing drag out and potentially end up having to settle for something less than what we wanted.
I heard the Marlins announcers
“At this point in his career, Castillo is playing most similar to Willie Randolph, who hit .305 with seven HR and 25 stolen bases at age 33, which is how old Castillo will be at the start of next season.”
Great….why can’t we just plug WIllie into the 2B hole then? Make him earn his salary.
Paulie Boy is next and then the whole gang will be back!
Man oh man, this must be some pitching deal Omar is going to pull off.
Trust in Minaya dude.
Look people Hudson is the truth, we need to get him on this team… make it happen Omar we can duct tape a starting rotation together like we did last year.
Not happening bro… let it go.
No way!!! We need to make a huge pitching acqusition..maybe 2!
Why would you waste prospects on a 2 hitter who cant hit 300 or hit for any pop?
I’d much rather sign a guy.
As a Real Mets Fan, I am going to give it to you ALL straight and that will be the bottom line…
Many of you wanted Eckstein because he was going to provide the team with that hustle and heart. I agree he would have provided this, however, how could you consider giving a SS turned 2B a 4 year deal? Especially when you have a veteran whom we already know what we get with. Sure those knees are scary. But he had surgery off-season, we have some Gotay and Anderson on the bench if need be. Is Castillo, Chase Utley? Of course not. But he provides a patient bat and superb defense. As someone above said… thats the way the market is (4 year deal), in the future we will be seeing more crazier contracts. Who was Minaya going to get? Nobody he would have had to trade a prospect to get a average 2B. He wants those prospects for a SP.
Don’t be suprised at the next move Minaya gets, if I’m right, Santana talks will stall till Dec and Minaya will sign a catcher and I hope it is NOT Miguel Olivo. Bring back Paulie or see if Laird or Hernandez can be had for cheaper.
Thats the bottom line…
If any of Omar’s moves have Santana coming to Shea without trading back a current starter or Lastings, it will be a good offseason in my opinion.
Johan, Ervin, or Carlos?
in a weird way, i think the castillo signing means loduca is definitely not coming back. loduca proved how worthless he could be at the bottom of the order and castillo is a better version of him as a #2 hitter because he can run (even with the gimpy knees) and bunt.
This post should have just read “David Eckstein sucks at baseball.” There is no possible future in which the Mets are better off with Eckstein than Castillo.
The bottomline is:
The Mets obviously want a guy who won’t foul off every pitch that Jose wants to steal on. Also, Gotay is a 24 year old hitter with some potential… He has trade value.
The Twins are willing to trade Matt Garza for a young bat. Say the Rays offer Delmon Young, who the Twins REALLY want. The Mets need to make sure that their offer isn’t nly better but won’t get topped.
The Twins are looking for a young, skilled centerfielder, and would take Gomez, but probably as part of a package. They’re looking for a young, skilled bat, and one who can play second base as well, considering that their current second baseman, Nick Punto, who put up a .210/.291/.271 line this year, in 472 ABs.
Also, another young pitcher wouldn’t hurt. They may deal Slowey and Garza, and giving them Humber at least gives them a young arm to keep as a possible middle reliever or back end starter.
Gomez, Gotay and Humber should be a sound trio to acquire Garza, and we can sign Iguchi/Castillo/Eckstein to 4 year deals. If Milledge breaks out this year, they can just hit 7th, while Milledge hits second. Then we sign Lo Duca, who is indeed the best option available. Meanwhile, El Duque heads to the bullpen and we start Garza and Pelfrey at the back end of the rotation. We’d even have studs like Mulvey, Smith and Kunz working in the minors.
“At this point in his career, Castillo is playing most similar to Willie Randolph, who hit .305 with seven HR and 25 stolen bases at age 33, which is how old Castillo will be at the start of next season.”
Luis Castillo has never hit 7 HR in any season.
MOST SIMILAR does not mean exactly the same.
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