Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:55 PM | 102 comments |
 

Phils, Juan Castro agree to deal , pending physical
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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.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 1:55 PM  Permalink | 102 comments
102
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:03 PM, 11/24/2009
    who? we can't do better than a lifetime .230 hitter? better than bruntlett? sure...but come on. and 37 years old?
    — djacobs5582
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:05 PM, 11/24/2009
    Hopefully, the 30's are the new 20's.
    — SPBilly
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:09 PM, 11/24/2009
    They must figure anybody's better than Bruntlett.
    — wooderice
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:12 PM, 11/24/2009
    This is the latest Phils news? We are looking to sign some old clown to replace Bruntlett? Castro better have a sick beard....
    — BillF1sher
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:14 PM, 11/24/2009
    Makes me yearn for the days of EB and his grizzled mug....
    — bdc333
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:17 PM, 11/24/2009
    You do realize that Ibanez is 37
    — bobf876
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:20 PM, 11/24/2009
    If he hit .277 in limited action last year and can repeat it in the same limited action next year, that's a huge improvement over Beardie McGee.
    — B in DC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:21 PM, 11/24/2009
    What??????????HUH???????
    — psuwelsh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:21 PM, 11/24/2009
    He can't be any worse than Bruntlett.
    — Drummerboy79
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:25 PM, 11/24/2009
    Ibañez didnt have power #'s like this before coming to philly...Dont look at .230 career...look at .277 this past season.
    — Will.i.Am
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:29 PM, 11/24/2009
    Face it, the only free agent who can (a) hit and (b) play multiple positions is Marco Scutaro, and he's going to get starter money from someone besides the Phils.
    — paolibulldog
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:37 PM, 11/24/2009
    My 88-year-old grandfather can play better than Bruntlett...and he'll play for free healthcare. Deal?
    — jjbrett23
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 PM, 11/24/2009
    Yes, by all means let's look only at his career-high .277 in 2009. I'm sure that he has established a new, sustainable level of performance at age 37.
    — Stevis


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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