Cuban OF Rusney Castillo has private showcase scheduled with Red Sox

[Plympton91]

There would be no issue for 2014, as he'd likely go to AA or AAA like Drew did until rosters expand and even if not Betts could go back down.

For 2015 you've got all winter to evaluate Vic and Craig and explore trades of Middlebrooks (making holt the 3bman), Nava, JBJ or even Betts. If everyone is back and healthy, and Castillo wins the CF job, then JBJ and Betts go to AAA, the outfield is Craig, Castillo, and Cespedes, with Vic as the 4th outfielder, Holt as the backup infielder (unless he's starting at 3B with Middlebrooks backing up) and Nava a 5th outfielder, backup 1st (the Carp role).

In 2016, Vic and Cespedes, and Napoli could be gone making way for Betts and JBJ, with Craig moving to 1B. Or you sign one of Napoli or Cespedes, making JBJ or Betts the 4th outfielder and the other a starter.

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

Im reading some journalists say the Phillies are perceived as the main favorite to get him.

 

[soxhop411]

Red Sox Stats ‏@redsoxstats  1m
K. Olbermann: "All information seems to be pointing Rusney Castillo to Boston." T. Kurkjian: "Yes, Boston.. maybe Detroit on the outside."
 
https://twitter.com/redsoxstats/status/501589241378635776

 

[soxhop411]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4OgGWmkb4g&feature=youtu.be

 

[ivanvamp]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4OgGWmkb4g&feature=youtu.be

 
Honestly, that description doesn't exactly excite me.  A guy that can help somebody?  Not very good defense, he's no Cespedes or Puig (in terms of power).  I mean, what's all the fuss about?
 
And here's a recent article on him:  http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/scouts-update-reports-rusney-castillo/
 
Here's the final words from that article:  "If Castillo can give teams comparable production to [Rajai] Davis at the same age with a little extra pop, he might not be a star like Yoenis Cespedes or Jose Abreu, but that’s a very solid everyday player, with no draft picks or prospects to surrender to acquire him."
 
​Eh….I guess the Sox could use more "solid everyday players".  

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

 
Honestly, that description doesn't exactly excite me.  A guy that can help somebody?  Not very good defense, he's no Cespedes or Puig (in terms of power).  I mean, what's all the fuss about?

 
New! Shiny! Cuban!
 
I do find it kind of funny that some of the same people who are quick to point out the fallacy of relying on minor league offense to translate to the majors are willing to bet tens of millions of dollars on the assumption that Castillo's Cuban league offense will do that. If the numbers here are correct, Alexei Ramirez was a better hitter from age 23 to 25 than Castillo has been from 24 to 26. Ramirez has a career major league wRC+ of 91, and would be more or less a replacement-level player if he was a middling defensive outfielder rather than an elite defensive shortstop.
 
Yes, there's some upside here, but I'm surprised (well, maybe not) at how willing many SoSHers are to ignore the fairly huge risks involved in giving a long-term contract to a guy who has never played a day in MLB.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

He's also been described as Brett Gardner with more power. If that's true, he'll be quite valuable and probably far more so than the average fan will appreciate. Gardner is very under appreciated, though a lot of his value does come from elite defense, which Castillo doesn't appear to have. Of course, if he can provide above average, but not spectacular defense in center, steal 25 bases a year and get on base at a .340 clip with 15-20 home runs a year, he'll be worth whatever contract he gets.
 
People need to get the idea that this guy will be another Abreu or Puig situation out of their heads. I probably set my ceiling at 5/60 and expect that to be a bit of an overpay. The outfield is currently an epic mess of under performance, injury and long term uncertainty. The back and forth here has convinced me that Castillo, even with the assumption he's not going to be a star, is worth a significant investment.
 
Stabilizing the outfield has value. Just a year ago the team showed how having average to above average players at every position can be very effective. If they think Castillo can live in that range and can lock up Cespedes this winter, it'll be a matter of getting that kind of production out of the third outfield spot with Craig, Nava, Victorino (in the short term) and one of or both of JBJ and Betts. That feels like a good bet to me.

 

[jimbobim]

Why are Cespedes and Abreu mentioned as "stars" in the same sentence? Cespedes makes some nice plays in the outfield and wins home run derbies, but I don't think a guy with a .300 OBP can be considered a star in this day and age, and I'm not sure why people are so quick to want to lock him up long term. Do we suddenly not give a shit about getting on base?

As far as the "Gardner with power" argument, isn't that this years version of Gardner? That's obviously a pretty great player.

 
With the overwhelming lack of power in the game today I think its an interesting discussion whether someone who can hit say 250-260 with 25-30 bombs is worth what he sells out for in the OBP department. Also having a superior glove and arm are not things to be scoffed at. Mike Napoli is the exception not the norm for not quite star middle of the order hitters. In fact I've found him and Cespedes to be ideally matched so far this year. 
 
As for Castillo I'm all for adding talent. We can choose what scouts or sources we want to believe but if I remember correctly the rap on Abreu was they weren't sure whether he'd be able to to hit ML pitching because Cuban pitching had gone down quality wise in the last couple of years. Clearly that was a bogus claim put out to dampen his market. 
 
In short the Red Sox scouts clearly believe a bit in his ability to be ready to contribute at a consistent level next year. Given the lack of FA bats I would be very interested. 

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

I didn't call Cespedes a star. I pointed to Abreu and Puig. I did argue for locking Cespedes up, and yes, his OBP is low. However, he provides a significant power boost to the lineup. I don't think it's a coincidence that they are scoring more runs per game with him in the lineup than they did before he was here. The offense is still only averaging a touch over 4 per game since trading for him, but it's an improvement over the 3.85 season long figure by a significant amount. With power, specifically right handed hitting power becoming more and more scarce, locking it up when you have it is probably a good idea. The Red Sox proved that you can win without above average power last year, but I don't think you can do it when you are below average. At some point, you need a certain amount of power to capitalize on the base runners you have.

 

[mfried]

I'm a bit concerned about the potential outfield logjam if Castillo projects much more effectively in the outfield: Cespedes, Castillo, Betts, Nava, Holt, Bradley, Craig.  If Holt turns out to be a super utility player and Betts is the 2015 leadoff man - that still points to six.  If Nava plays only against RH pitching, does that make for a platoon with Castillo?  Or are we accumulating trade chips?

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

I'm a bit concerned about the potential outfield logjam if Castillo projects much more effectively in the outfield: Cespedes, Castillo, Betts, Nava, Holt, Bradley, Craig.  If Holt turns out to be a super utility player and Betts is the 2015 leadoff man - that still points to six.  If Nava plays only against RH pitching, does that make for a platoon with Castillo?  Or are we accumulating trade chips?

Victorino.

 

[TomRicardo]

I'm a bit concerned about the potential outfield logjam if Castillo projects much more effectively in the outfield: Cespedes, Castillo, Betts, Nava, Holt, Bradley, Craig.  If Holt turns out to be a super utility player and Betts is the 2015 leadoff man - that still points to six.  If Nava plays only against RH pitching, does that make for a platoon with Castillo?  Or are we accumulating trade chips?

 
I wouldn't be.
 
People are going this winter. 
 
I mean if Philly is going to have a CF that doesn't hit they might as well get one that could field.  Bradley even in his terrible can't hit form is a huge step up from Ben Revere.  Hell he is being mentioned in Philly with the likes of Bogaerts and Vasquez.
 
I would imagine Philly would demand one of Bogaerts, Vasquez, or Bradley. Two starting pitchers from (De La Rosa, Webster, Workman, Barnes, Johnson, Owens, Kelly, Escobar, Ranuado) and Marrero or a young guy.
 
If Philly will take Bradley, Webster, Workman, and Marrero, you jump at it.

 

[Auger34]

 
I wouldn't be.
 
People are going this winter. 
 
I mean if Philly is going to have a CF that doesn't hit they might as well get one that could field.  Bradley even in his terrible can't hit form is a huge step up from Ben Revere.  Hell he is being mentioned in Philly with the likes of Bogaerts and Vasquez.
 
I would imagine Philly would demand one of Bogaerts, Vasquez, or Bradley. Two starting pitchers from (De La Rosa, Webster, Workman, Barnes, Johnson, Owens, Kelly, Escobar, Ranuado) and Marrero or a young guy.
 
If Philly will take Bradley, Webster, Workman, and Marrero, you jump at it.

 
Are you talking about a hypothetical trade for Cole Hamels here? I assume it is but don't see a name mentioned anywhere

 

[sackamano]

No, I think he wants the Phillies just to take them.

 

[Reggie's Racquet]

No, I think he wants the Phillies just to take them.

Seems like a good deal to me but you know Ruben Amaro.

 

[Auger34]

It's an obvious assumption but just wanted to make sure. Still seems like a lot to give up to get a guy when we just turned down the opportunity to sign a guy, who is probably better, for just cash. 
But Hamles is locked in for a certain amount of years and money the FO seems comfortable with

 

[TomRicardo]

 
Are you talking about a hypothetical trade for Cole Hamels here? I assume it is but don't see a name mentioned anywhere

 
Basically the articles from Philly papers continuously mention Vasquez, Bogaerts, and Bradley as well as the Phillies desperate need for pitching.

 

[Corsi]

Sahadev Sharma @sahadevsharma  ·  18m
Hearing bidding for Rusney Castillo is wild, above $55M. Cubs don't appear to see value in that. May be battle between Detroit & Boston.
 

 

[glennhoffmania]

Cuban star Rusney Castillo is sifting through offers from multiple teams, and officials with interested teams say they expect a decision soon, perhaps by the end of the week.
 
One of a half-dozen teams -- the Red Sox, Tigers, Phillies, Cubs, Yankees and Mariners -- who all worked out Castillo privately -- is expected to win the services of the compact and powerful Castillo who is generally viewed as an outfielder by most but is apparently being considered as a possible second baseman by the Yankees.
 

 
Heyman

 

[strek1]

 
Heyman

 
Yeah, somehow I knew we weren't done hearing from The MFY

 

[ivanvamp]

The good news with signing Castillo is that he won't cost a draft pick or any prospects.  Just straight cash.  Which the Red Sox have plenty of.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

 
Yeah, somehow I knew we weren't done hearing from The MFY

That's just a reporter recycling old info from last week. Nearly the same text is in this thread from a few days ago.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

That's just a reporter recycling old info from last week. Nearly the same text is in this thread from a few days ago.

 
Yeah, we can probably expect to see him sign with the Diamondbacks or something on Friday.

 

[strek1]

That's just a reporter recycling old info from last week. Nearly the same text is in this thread from a few days ago.

 I just don't trust these Sox/Tigers/Phillies reports.  Cashman has a habit of swooping in.  They certainly have offensive needs too.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

 I just don't trust these Sox/Tigers/Phillies reports.  Cashman has a habit of swooping in.  They certainly have offensive needs too.

Like when? Tanaka was the one big international signing they've had in the past decade, and before that was Contreras, who they were in on the entire time.

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

Buster Olney (Twitter):
Two folks involved in the Rusney Castillo bidding view the Cubs as the most likely team to land him. Just their educated guesses.

 

[maxotaur]

Like when? Tanaka was the one big international signing they've had in the past decade, and before that was Contreras, who they were in on the entire time.

I don't think they were just referring to international players. Think Tex, A-Rod...

 

[bosockboy]

Like when? Tanaka was the one big international signing they've had in the past decade, and before that was Contreras, who they were in on the entire time.

 
Swooping in?  Try Teixeira for one.

 

[bosockboy]

The Cubs....just wow.  Talk about tripling down on bats.

 

[foulkehampshire]

 
Swooping in?  Try Teixeira for one.

 
Thank God they did. 

 

[snowmanny]

That was all part of an elaborate plan to sucker Boston into overpaying for Crawford.

 

[bosockboy]

 
Thank God they did. 

Agreed....but it was a massive dick punch at the time.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

 
Swooping in?  Try Teixeira for one.

It's not really comparable. "Swoop in" has meaning. Unless you think Rusney's wife and Rusney have already made up their mind and are just raising the price for NYY, then I don't know what to say. On relevant-to-this-scenario-terms, when did they out of nowhere bid on international players? And just to entertain the whole FA thing, when did they swoop in out of nowhere when they weren't considered a candidate to land a domestic player? To do some of the legwork, Johnny Damon is probably the closest example, but the Yankees have let a metric fuckton of talent slip by them in the past 10 years without swooping in, and if you're Rusney Castillo's agents, the Yankees having more than a lukewarm interest is only going to increase your payout. It's really just paranoia of the Yankees.

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

I thought teams made their bids and now they would just be waiting for the player/agent to pick the best one (not the highest necessarily). Why is it that it seems to be an open bidding, with some reports saying that X team dropped out of the pursuit, and different reporters saying different things regarding teams/offers?
Can anyone explain? Can teams negotiate and elevate their offers, etc?

 

[Yaz4Ever]

I thought teams made their bids and now they would just be waiting for the player/agent to pick the best one (not the highest necessarily). Why is it that it seems to be an open bidding, with some reports saying that X team dropped out of the pursuit, and different reporters saying different things regarding teams/offers?
Can anyone explain? Can teams negotiate and elevate their offers, etc?

My guess is that anything we're reading along those lines comes from unnamed sources tipping off the Tweeter or whomever.  We'll know more soon and it will likely not shake out exactly as we've read.  Some of these people might also just be pulling things from their ass so they look brilliant in calling him going to a team others had discounted.

 

[ArgentinaSOXfan]

Rosenthal just tweeted that Boston, Giants and Tigers still in the mix.
Philliees, Yankees, Cubs not expected to place high bid.

So, again, I come back to my question: didnt teams submit their offers this past weekend? Why is he talking about teams still bidding for him and making offers?

 

[strek1]

Rosenthal just tweeted that Boston, Giants and Tigers still in the mix.
Philliees, Yankees, Cubs not expected to place high bid.

So, again, I come back to my question: didnt teams submit their offers this past weekend? Why is he talking about teams still bidding for him and making offers?

 Yes 'm confused by that too.  As for the teams favored - It seems to change every 5 minutes. (Now the GIANTS)

 

[snowmanny]

My thought was they did a round of blind bidding to gather general interest. Then teams would be invited to improve their bids in more of an auction style.

There is no reason for the agent to stick with the highest blind bid if some team that was just behind is willing to top that offer.

 

[benhogan]

My thought was they did a round of blind bidding to gather general interest. Then teams would be invited to improve their bids in more of an auction style.

There is no reason for the agent to stick with the highest blind bid if some team that was just behind is willing to top that offer.

Exactly. The agent will shop everyones bid, thats how agents roll...

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

Exactly. The agent will shop everyones bid, thats how agents roll...

 
Then what's the point of the blind bids in the first place? Just a publicity stunt?

 

[snowmanny]

Just a guess:

If one team way outbids the others, you take it.
If a few teams are in the same general range you run a mini-auction with those teams.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Just a guess:

If one team way outbids the others, you take it.
If a few teams are in the same general range you run a mini-auction with those teams.

Sort of like selling a company

 

[E5 Yaz]

Sort of like selling a company

 
Companies are ballplayers, too

 

[LondonSox]

It seems as though the teams have a significantly worse handle on this process and where they stand than normal free agency.
 
I've seen that sugegsted several times, but of course baseball writers aren't paid to wait, so WILD SPECULATION continues.

 

[mabrowndog]

"Ze continuing parade uv conzhecture und indecizhion vit zis drama queen has become tiresome..."
 

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

Cubs could and should get aggressive.  Sign Castillo and deal some of their surplus position prospects and/or Castro for SP (Hamels).  Then sign Lester.  They're only on the hook for $31M next year, so they could spend big on the rotation and still have a payroll south of $100M.

 

[67WasBest]

 
Earlier this week, sources identified the Red Sox, Tigers and Giants as the teams still in the mix. Negotiations, however, remain fluid, and the possibility exists that other clubs could jump into the bidding.

Fox Sports Rosenthal
 
The final 3 teams seems to be newsworthy, but nothing really new because of the qualifier at the end of this line.

 

[SouthernBoSox]

These reporters are reporting non information.
 
"It's three teams, but not really." They basically have no idea where he is going.

 

[TomRicardo]

Cubs could and should get aggressive.  Sign Castillo and deal some of their surplus position prospects and/or Castro for SP (Hamels).  Then sign Lester.  They're only on the hook for $31M next year, so they could spend big on the rotation and still have a payroll south of $100M.

 
Castro would be a really weird get for Phillies for Hamels.  First off it doesn't solve their pitching problems at all.  Secondly it would mean they would have to put Rollins or Utley at 3B next year.
 
If Castro is moved next year (I don't think he will), they can get more putting him on the open market and the Phillies can do better putting Hamels on the open market.
 
Castro would be a piece for Stanton.

 

[Reggie's Racquet]

Maybe he's talking to Lebron about The Decision vs. Heartfelt letter.