Phils, Juan Castro agree to deal , pending physical
The Phillies and veteran utilityman Juan Castro have agreed in principle on a contract, and will likely finalize the agreement with a physical next week, Castro’s agent told the Inquirer today. Additionally, there were strong indications in baseball that a one-year deal could be announced next week, pending the results of the physical. According to agent Oscar Suarez, Castro is out of the country, which is why he will not likely take the physical until next week. "We have been in discussions with his agent," said general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. "That's all I can tell you right now." Castro, 37, is a .230 hitter, with a .270 on-base percentage, in 15 major league seasons. In 57 games with the Dodgers last year, he batted .277, while playing shortstop, second base, third base and left field. He fits the profile of what the Phils are seeking at the utility position: a versatile defender who can provide a modest offensive upgrade over Bruntlett, and can fill in for shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Manager Charlie Manuel is notoriously reluctant to utilize his bench players extensively, and has said publicly that he wants a utility player capable can of starting in place of Rollins and Chase Utley. Bruntlett, who batted .171 in 72 games last season, clearly never gained Manuel’s trust. Rollins and Utley will both be 31 next season, and would benefit from regular time off. Rollins played in 155 games last season; Utley 156. The second baseman in particular endured a rough September, batting just .204. He later admitted to suffering mental and physical fatigue late in the season.
Phils, Juan Castro agree to deal , pending physical
Andy Martino
The Phillies and veteran utilityman Juan Castro have agreed in principle on a contract, and will likely finalize the agreement with a physical next week, Castro’s agent told the Inquirer today. Additionally, there were strong indications in baseball that a one-year deal could be announced next week, pending the results of the physical.
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37?? This team just keeps getting older, and older, and older...— mikemimbs- Lets see - they are mentioning that he is coming off a .277 average - but the two years before that he hit ~.200 and .180 - not to mention his .200 postseason average....................cheap— Bobphxville
- all these guys play their best ball at the end of their contracts. We would be better off signing his uncle Fidel.— mainstreet
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- Jerry Hairston JR is 4 years younger, plays the same postitions career AVG/ OBP .259/.328— joeolive
- Is this Fidel's son or grandson??— PhillieJoe
- There has to be better options than this guy.— FetchDixon
- Who in the organization thinks this guy is better than Miguel Cairo? I don't get it??— PhillieJoe
- i hope this is a joke...— jdbeach
- This is a secret plan: Sign Castro, Eric Chavez, and Byung-Hyun Kim. So the Phillies will have their own axis of evil, namely Castro, Chavez, and Kim. Get it? (If not...Cuban dictator, Venezuelan dictator, North Korean dictator.) Ahh, now you see what the Phils are up to!!!— AlanInFlorida
- It is an upgrade over Bruntlett, next we'll get someone marginal that is an upgrade over Stairs, we are going to get an upgrade at 3rd base and in the bullpen, I say way to go Amaro, keep it going.— Reid Must Go
- It's easy to be the front-runner to sign a player nobody else is interested in signing. I was ecstatic that they got rid of Bruntlett but Castro is not much of an upgrade, if even an upgrade at all.— clowns96
- yawn— IdahoMoose
- WOW...get your playoff tickets now!— The Truth Hurts
