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Last night on SNY’s Mets Hot Stove, Kevin Burkhardt talked by phone with Mets manager Jerry Manuel, who had the following to say about Luis Castillo:
“If Castillo remains with us, my job is to make him the best
player he can possibly be.”
To watch all of Burkhardt’s interview with Manuel, during which they talk about the bullpen, rotation, and ‘change for the sake of change,’ click here.
Later in the show, SI.com’s Jon Heyman was also asked about whether the Mets can trade Castillo, to which he said:
“Manuel didn’t get along with Castillo when he was in Florida – he didn’t particularly like him. He’d like him traded. It’s gonna be a tall order, though, it’s not gonna be easy.”
To watch Heyman, Burkhardt and Newsday’s David Lennon discuss Castillo, click here – and to watch them answer questions from fans about Trever Hoffman, Chad Bradford, and using Aaron Heilman as a starter, click here.
…Update…12:10 pm…
Also, to watch my 90–second segment, during which Burkhardt and I talk about Citi Field, the Hot Stove and Francisco Rodriguez, click play below:
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Good I’m glad Jerry doesn’t like him. It just shows that fan perception isn’t far off.
Fan perception and a manager’s dislike dont really amount to much if a Guy is “untradeable”.
That’s Omar’s fault.
I totally agree Mikey, But it’s too late. Isn’t it?
That being said … Omar should admit his huge mistake and just cut him if he can’t be traded by Opening Day. Never happen … I know.
Yeah it was too late the second the guy signed the contract.
But there are ways Omar can make up for this mistake, by going out and getting the right players.
TEIXEIRA!!!
Haha … that’s true. As much as I think Teixeira should be the Mets 1B … deep down I know that Omar really likes Delgado and Castillo.
What a shame.
Can you imagine an infield of Wright, Reyes, and Tex for the next million years?
I’m glad I won’t be around during the millionth year of THOSE contracts!
Doesn’t matter. Jerry’s job to do the most he can with the players he has. His childish favortism of junk like Easley and Argenis and batting Castillo 7th and not getting him ready to play are key reason why the Mets lost last year.
Hopefully Omar can get us the players that it doesn’t matter that we have a liability as a Manager.
g-d that was a terrible contract.
omar has to find a team that has a salary dump that’s bigger than castillo’s then decide if the inoming player will play. i’ve seen byrnes suggested, but not sure wh the d-backs would do that despite saving cash
Given that getting rid of Castillo for nothing improves the club, I don’t see why there should be any hesitation to take on a big, crappy contract to get him the heck away from the Mets.
I really am starting to think that the Mets will release Castillo if they cant find a taker for the contract. I mean Jerry doesnt like him and the fans kill him everytime he walks out of the dugout. Also even if he turns it around his ceiling is nowhere near the player he once was. I think they will cut him if they cant trade him for sure
Are they still liable for his contract if they release him?
Of course.
You can be forgiven for focusing on the NFL these days, but this ain’t football.
I doubt the Mets would ever let a player get paid to play elsewhere. History is against them making that move that every fan wants…
Does MLB have the non injured inactive list like the NFL? Would be nice to put castillo on it, and not pay him. He can hang out with Burress.
He’d probably be a good friend to Marbury.
Oh snap, forgot bout Marbury
That would only make a bad mistake worse. Sure, trade him for prospects or a salary dump if they can, but just releasing him outright wouldn’t make sense. Castillo has some defensive skills and can run the bases.
sure, it makes sense to let him compete in spring training for a bench spot, and if he deserves it, give it to him and that will increase his trade value.
If he doesnt, why clog the roster with someone that Jerry isnt going to go to just because of his salary.
To clarify, I think the Mets thinking is as follows:
1-Try as long as possible to trade Castillo before acquiring a 2B
2-Regardless of whether it works or not acquire a capable second baseman, whether it be Nick Punto, Mark Loretta, or even Orlando Hudson.
3-If it is someone like the first 2, tell Castillo hes competing for a starting job in spring, if its Hudson, just tell him hes got a bench spot if he does what he has to do
4-Give him the bench spot if he deserves it, if not its time to cut your losses and realize you made a mistake and get rid of him
Why? Why play a worse player and hurt your offense just because the manager or fans don’t like a player?
If Murphy shows some sort of crazy aptitude towards 2B and we’ve signed a replacement LF, AND castillo completely stinks in Spring, sure, but as things stand now, it’d be stupid.
““If Castillo remains with us, my job is to make him the best player he can possibly be.”
translation: unfortunately this guy will be in uniform becoz nobody wants him and omar minaya will not cut him, so i was already advice that this scrub will be here… F**K!!!!!
thats a pretty fair word-for-word translation.
Yup.
always time to revistit the castillo for Andru swap.
Same $$, 2 less years, and they could actually use a RH power bat that can play RF (as-suming Jones remembers how to be one!)
Maybe playing for his next (last?) contract will get him motivated to get into shape!
and he’ll move to the RF/LF? he’s considered one of the greatest defensive CF of all time
He has no other choice, We have the BEST there right now!
Didn’t he play LF last year too? At least before manny arrived and he didn’t play at all!
As bad as he did last year, just being on the field should be enough.
Or, he can refuse to report, and the mets save the salary$!
This is one of the things I like about Jerry (his honesty). Willie would have said “Luis is my guy. He is a pro, and I think he is going to have a big year for us.”
He would’ve been like “geese, what kinda question is that, he’s my guy…of course he’s going to play, he is a pro…I think he’s gonna turn the corner any day now…I know my players better than you.”
if omar gets us #25 k-rod and street along with sheets i will take anybody at 2b… ANYBODY!!!! But i sense this guy will fail again this offseason coz he seems to be puzzling a lot.. i do not like the way he seems to be shruggin off k-rod and messing around with trades here and there.. i sense failure but i wish i am wrong..
The thing is Omar CAN NOT multi task. He has a hard time doing multiple things at the same time. If he is focused on pitching, he probably forgot #25 was a free agent.
how do you know he can’t? And he has as-st gms and ofice help to do a lot of the leg and grunt work.
I’m just making fun of the guy.
ok then. no problem!
Don’t get too worked up yet. There is surely a lot of smoke blowing and gamesmanship going on (really a big game of chicken). Plus, the Mets tend to keep a pretty tight lipped ship. And, much of what gets reported is intentional leakage (disinformation).
But I know what you mean. We kind of have to react to the rumors.
I just hope that he has (along with the new 4 year deal) a real LT vision to build a dynasty that will compete every year. not just trying to plug holes for 2009 with no thoughts about 2010 and beyond.
That will be answered when you see who he signs and trades for. Ibanez and Lowe? ST. Tex? Long term dynasty building.
This is true. The Mets can’t say — or at least, it would be of no advantage to say — something publicly like “this guy infected the clubhouse with a disease called ‘losing’, we don’t trust him in the field, and we’ll do anything to get rid of him.”
if the Mets can sign Teixiera their offensive problems for the future besides 2B are gone. All they have to do is find someone to play until Flores and Martinez are ready whenever that will be.
I would say martinez everyday in 2010-11 and Flores in 2012.
you would think at least one of Murphy, Carp, and Evans can be a productive starter at the MLB level and can fill LF while Martinez replaces Church in RF. All that leaves is C and 2B which can be filled easily over the next few years.
Santana, Pelfrey, Niese (not right away) Maine will all be part of the rotation for at least a few years with Parnell or Vargas maybe and Holt coming up.
K-Rod, Street leaves the mets with a solid SU and great CP and middle relievers always come and go.
After signing Teixeria and K-Rod all the Mets need are some role players like Eckstein and a short term #2 SP. Penny could probably be had on a 1 year deal or a veteran like Andy Pettitte or Randy Johnson for 1 year only can fill the void and Delgado for Sonnanstine/Jackson will be fine for a year. Penny/Pettitte/Big Unit leaves and then we sign a #2 SP next year like Harden, Duscherer?, Lackey or if we feel that all we need is a top SP and we’ll win the WS then make the move at the deadline…
I really just don’t know what can be done with Castillo. Someone needs to light a fire under him, or he just needs to go. Have there been any rumors revisiting that Byrnes deal? A one year stopgap of Grudzielanek seems to be a viable option should we be able to ship him out.
grudz and give Murphy some time there. OJT baby!
2009 citi field opening day…..
STARTING AT 2ND BASE, #1 LUIS CASTILLO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
BOOOOOOOO
I CAN JUST PICTURE THAT!!!!
lol picture…its a given lol
same with heilman.
Well, there is always the realistic chance that Luis gets hurt again. Not that I wish it on anyone, but it never seemed like his knees were right last year.
So how far fetched is it to think he may just blow one out in ST and be done for the year (or career?)
The contract $$ are gone regardless. He could get hurt, traded for an equally bad contract (and that rarely works out), or released, and it costs the Mets the same regardless.
‘Well, there is always the realistic chance that Luis gets hurt again.’
Here’s my fear on this: Castillo is our opening day 2nd baseman. He goes down with an injury which I’m thinking is good odds. Who, exactly, do they put out there? Please God – not A. Reyes. And Easley is gone. If they’re going with him opening day, they’d better have a backup ready…..
Been watching the minor league signings. Looking at the bench we’ve got. Who is our backup shortstop for the handful of games Jose doesn’t play?
same guy as last year. Don’t have one.
Well, I guess it was easley last year. Who knows for this year. Maybe Luis?
lol anyone think castillo will pull a marbury…..or do us a favor and pull a plaxico?
with our luck, he would miss his leg and hit Jose Reyes instead.
lmao!!
LMAO!!!
My question is why is Reyes out with Castillo, LOL!!
If Castillo proves us wrong and turns out to be a good second baseman for us next year, I’ll laugh like a maniac at how much doubt we had in him. Then I’ll grab a pig, clip off it’s wings, and make smoked bacon for my family to celebrate Castillo’s turnaround.
well the same way that people said delgado is done…(and i wasnt here at this time) and beltran wasnt going to work out….
I was never one of those people that doubted Delgado’s abilities, though. With Castillo…well that’s another story.
well alot of people are on the same boat about castillos ability. I think they should give him at least one more show considering how awful a first year beltran had in 05 and how he bounced back in 06 same with delgado’s resurgance in the same year..who knows maybe we can go 3 for 3..
If Duaner Sanchez can also bounce back and make it 4-for-4, I’ll be very happy.
Well, there is a chance. I know folks got all riled up about the “rededicating” himself comment.
But, what if he does get a PT, and works out rehabbing like a madman? And comes into camp 20lbs. lighter, and moving around better?
maybe he could have an at least adequate year. Field what he can, make the routine plays, and put up a .375 OBP out of the 8 hole (with no power of course!)
maybe not likely, but if we are stuck with him, that is probably the best we can hope for. IOW, about what a loretta or Grudzy would give the team!
“If Castillo proves us wrong and turns out to be a good second baseman for us next year, I’ll laugh like a maniac at how much doubt we had in him. Then I’ll grab a pig, clip off it’s wings, and make smoked bacon for my family to celebrate Castillo’s turnaround.”
well, from the bottom of my heart i tell you… DO NOT COUNT ON IT.. this guy was done 2 years ago.. i wouldn’t be surprised if a report comes up saying he’s really 37 instead of 33.. he looks done and OLD… omar gave him the mets retirement plan… alou, pedro and el duque are in tahiti together thanks to the mets!!!!
I’ve said it from the start.
Luis Castillo will be the starting 2B next year and Carlos Delgado will be the starting 1B.
The Mets focus is on pitching, pitching and more pitching. We have at least one hole in the rotation and we have at least three holes in the bullpen. That’s four holes that are much more urgent to fill before you start looking at anything on offense.
And until the Mets FO figures out what the budget will be for those four holes, there’s no way they’re even thinking about a the offense.
marty noble, mlb.com
1. mets like k-rod better than putz or fuentes
2. mets don’t expect to sign or trade for a close during the winter meetings. they are in no rush and view the supply of closers as the reason
Then, you would figure, we’d be hearing about conversations and rumors for starting pitching or complementary bullpen help, but the entire hot stove is about closers. And who exactly is this top-of-rotation starter we’re getting, if we aren’t getting in on C.C? Lowe sure seems to be in love with the Red Sox again. Perez probably would have happened by now. Does Omar consider Garland a top starter? Does he wonder if Johan and Pelfrey are enough to carry a rotation of Maine (good but injured five inning pitcher) Neise (”who know’s?” five inning pitcher) and Sheets (might as well pencil in Figgy or Vargas for about half the season).
Oh… and can we drop the Delgado for Sonnanstine/Jackson rumors?
There’s no way the Rays take on Delgado unless the Mets pick up the bulk of his contract. And if we’re doing that, it defeats the purpose of trading away Delgado. We’re not going to pay $28M+ for first base next year.
not to mention neither sonnanstine/jackson are worth giving up the offensive output of delgado.
i agree but i really hope you’re wrong.. but is amazing how our focus is pitching pitching pitching but yet we are ducking and dodging to pay for k-rod and already are out of the cc, lowe (not the i wanted him) burnett sweepstakes, let vasques go to be braves, haven’t been mention in the sheets radar, and all i keep hearing is garland who is garbage.. yeah,, pitching.. whatever..
That’s a good point. How are the Mets going to fill that rotation hole? Bringing back Ollie (who we know will be overpaid!)?
If it’s not CC, Lowe, Burnett or Vazquez… is there any interest in Sheets? Jon Garland had an ERA+ of 91 last year (100 is average) and a WHIP of 1.505. That’s 4th or 5th starter territory. The guy can eat some innings, but if they’re bad innings, who cares.
Since 2005, Garland has seen his walks climb, his K’s decline, his WHIP climb and his ERA+ decline. That’s a pitcher on the downslope.
WAYYYYYYY off topic,
but A Rod will play for the dominican team in the WBC.
Of course, as America has been horrible to him.
LOL, 275 Million reason to be horrible right.
Precisely. I guess Madonna abandoned America, so he follows suit.
I’m not a tabloid reader, but that story about A-Rod working out in his private gym while mesmerized by wall-to-wall Madonna videos was hilarious. Probably not true, but hilarious.
Oh, and his “good buddy” Jeter is MLB’s poster boy for the US team. Ugh. Canada?
Anyway, I as_sume David Wright would now be a US starter were he to play. Let the calls of “he needs rest!” begin!
Luis Castillo will not be the problem next year if we don’t make the playoffs. Sure, trading him and signing say, Orlando Hudson, would be a huge improvement, but it remains that pitching is the most important thing here. We need to sign a good free agent pitcher, and Lowe should be our top priority (aside from closer of course). If we have a guy like that, giving us that many quality innings, it allows you to overcome a lot of other deficiencies. It’s all about reliability (another reason we shouldn’t settle for Perez). Castillo will bat 8th (9th would be nice actually), and get on base, and hopefully he’s in decent shape, stays healthy for most of the season, and plays decent D. If not, you have a backup plan like last year, with a combo of guys like Easley/Reyes/Grudzy?/Loretta? With Lowe in the rotation between Santana and Pelfrey, Maine back in a no pressure #4 slot and someone else at #5, that should get the job done, along with Krod in the back end, and a Street/Cruz/Putz/someone else good in the 8th.
if we are all about pitching, pitching and more pitching, we better sign k-rod,sheets,ollie and trade for street.
because garland,wolf and all the other free agents(not named cc,lowe,burnett)are not pitching,pitching and more pitching,they are avg,bad and mediocre.
Wasn’t the same said about Ted Lilly and Gil Meche versus Barry Zito?
According to reports in The Dominican Sun, a group of fans has retained an attorney and is suing the Tigres over injuries resulting from the incident in the DWL, where Aybar took his bat with him to charge the mound.. Aybar and Licey teammates Ronnie Belliard and Timo Perez are named in the suit. The Dominican baseball league has also banned firearms and fireworks from stadiums, items that apparently weren’t banned before.
Time Perez? DId not know he was still playing.
yea it was a surprise to me too when i was watching one of the games(espn deportes).
Something about him makes me laugh. i wonder if the rumors were true?
oh, this inning eater thing has been bugging me.
It is a wonderful thing if it means that a SP pitches well enough to routinely go deep in games (like Santana). And it likely means he stays healthy.
But combine the 2, and 33 starts to get to 200 innings is still barely 6 average.
More important is probably avoiding Ollie syndrome (enough 2-3 inning jobs to kill the pen).
And, with Garland, you can’t directly translate Al innings. Think of how many games an average guy might give up 3-4 runs by the 5th inning, but be settling in a little and getting by.
Now, in the AL, he can just pitch until his arm falls off (eat innings IOW). But now in the NL, 2 men on 2 out in the 6th down by 2, and suddenly he gets pinch hit for. So now, his mediocre 8 innings have been reduced to 5/6 innings.
so unless he pulls a trachsel (meaning the offense always puts up a ton of runs for him), who’s to say he will still pit up the same number of innings?
And since his main job is to eat those innings, what happens if he doesnt?
might just as well resign Pedro for 1 year.
JERRY SHOULD GO GANGSTA ON LUIS AND CUT HIM UP BAD SO HE CANT PLAY NEXT YEAR!!!
Um . . . .
That’s not the kind of “cutting” the Mets should consider.
i’m guessing you had your ‘jumping the coach’ moment a long time ago
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Phillies and Mets have expressed interest in free agent infielder Nick Punto. The Twins are also in contact.
Punto, 31, hit .284/.344/.382 in 377 plate appearances this year. He seems to play an above average shortstop, according to the plus/minus system. Punto is also capable of playing the other infield positions. He earned $2.4MM in ‘08.
The Phils are likely worried about the surgery to both Utley and Feliz. Punto can play both 2nd and 3rd.
weren’t they rumored to be going after Lopez too?
They do need someone to play everyday for at least the first couple of months at 2B.
Could be interesting to see what happens to the Phils. Unlikely the pen can all pitch above their talent level again, and with utley out, Feliz coming off back surgery, probably an unknown in LF, they might not be quite the offenseive machine people think they are.
plus the back end of their rotation is still looking pretty mungy.
The mets aren’t the only team with holes to fill!