Phillies don't rule out interest in Castillo
The New York Mets, not exactly rife with cash these days, ate $6 million to release their former All-Star and Gold Glove second baseman, Luis Castillo, without a clear replacement for him.
Phillies don't rule out interest in Castillo
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Across the state this morning, the New York Mets, not exactly rife with cash these days, ate $6 million to release their former All-Star and Gold Glove second baseman without a clear replacement for him.
That probably says enough about the current state of Luis Castillo's 35-year-old body, but it doesn't mean the Phillies have ruled out possibly bringing in Castillo for a look-see at second, where a gaping hole remains without Chase Utley.
"That remains to be seen," assistant GM Scott Proefrock said when asked about the team's interest in Castillo.
Any club that picks up Castillo would only have to pay the major-league minimum of $414,000, but he managed just a .604 OPS in 86 games last season.
In one National League scout's opinion, Castillo has not looked like a suitable option this spring -- especially defensively. He is 8 for 28 with three walks in Grapefruit League play.
Proefrock said the team has been impressed with the Grapefruit League play of Wilson Valdez, Delwyn Young, Josh Barfield, Pete Orr and Michael Martinez -- all of whom can play some second.
"I think we are very comfortable" with the current players, Proefrock said. "It's a hell of a competition. They've all played very well."
As for Utley, he was back in camp Friday after visiting a mystery rehab specialist who showed the second baseman new exercises for the chronic patellar tendinitis in his right knee. Utley took batting practice but did no more movement than before.
Utley declined comment Friday morning. Does the team think the new exercises could help?
"Too early to tell," Proefrock said. "We'll have to see how it plays out."
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
Buy: Phillies tickets
Just what the phillies need another over the hill ball player, Don't they have enough of them now.— eaglesman1- Has anyone even seen Castillo play in the last two years? There are reasons the Mets stink, and Castillo is a major one. I would even humor the idea if the Phillies didn't have 5 guys in camp today that are currently better than Castillo at 2b. Six if you count Utley on crutches. No range, can't run anymore, is way overrated as far as his patience at the plate, and is coming off a season where he had a .267 SLUGGING PCT! He's so bad that the pinch penny Mets are willing to eat $6 mil just to get rid of him. Please please please, we are old enough.— Butch
- I'd have to say that with all of the options to play 2nd base that the Phillies have right now, some combination of them has to be better than Castillo at this point in his career.— SteveS11
- Hey, writer, you stupid.— akalove53
