Rusney Castillo Attempts Comeback with the Nationals

Brohamer of the Gods

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I spent some quality time with Rusney in Pawtucket and saw him get thrown out on the basepaths multiple times. Picked off, caught stealing, out trying to get an extra base; he could do it all. A real triple threat.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Rusney was a "victim" of his contract. He probably would have been a 4th or 5th OF in the majors from 2017-2019 if there wasn't a loophole to get his contract off the books.

On another note, Rusney feels like something that was over 10 years ago, not less than 3.
 

Pitt the Elder

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Rusney was a "victim" of his contract. He probably would have been a 4th or 5th OF in the majors from 2017-2019 if there wasn't a loophole to get his contract off the books.

On another note, Rusney feels like something that was over 10 years ago, not less than 3.
Honest question, what do you think a fair 3-year contract would have been for peak Rusney as a 4th or 5th outfielder? $3-4M per year? Less?

I'm sure Rusney would much rather have the 7/$72.5 deal to play in the minors but I'm sure part of him would have liked to play in the majors at his peak.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Honest question, what do you think a fair 3-year contract would have been for peak Rusney as a 4th or 5th outfielder? $3-4M per year? Less?

I'm sure Rusney would much rather have the 7/$72.5 deal to play in the minors but I'm sure part of him would have liked to play in the majors at his peak.
Yeah, 3/8 to 3/10 seems about right. Total, not per year.
 

Deweys New Stance

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I spent some quality time with Rusney in Pawtucket and saw him get thrown out on the basepaths multiple times. Picked off, caught stealing, out trying to get an extra base; he could do it all. A real triple threat.
Don't sell him short; his game also included forgetting the number of outs in the field:

View: https://youtu.be/W6r3jaqSmAU


Don't see the point in even giving him a minor league deal at age 34. He's five years removed from putting up an 857 OPS in AAA.
 

Mueller's Twin Grannies

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Dec 19, 2009
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Oh Rusney
You came and got paid without playing
For the Major League club
Oh Rusney
You got shipped to McCoy and were raking
And you could still be there today
'Cause Rusney
Your contract, it seemed never-ending...
 

Pitt the Elder

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Don't sell him short; his game also included forgetting the number of outs in the field:

View: https://youtu.be/W6r3jaqSmAU


Don't see the point in even giving him a minor league deal at age 34. He's five years removed from putting up an 857 OPS in AAA.
I mean, the dude has money, what else is he going to do with his time? Assuming he managed the money halfway decent, he could play another 4-5 years of pro or semi-pro ball and then hang up his cleats to become a coach for a handful of decades. Or maybe he pissed all his money away and he needs the paycheck?
 

Cesar Crespo

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I mean, the dude has money, what else is he going to do with his time? Assuming he managed the money halfway decent, he could play another 4-5 years of pro or semi-pro ball and then hang up his cleats to become a coach for a handful of decades. Or maybe he pissed all his money away and he needs the paycheck?
You read their post wrong. They don't see the point in a team giving him a minor league deal.
 

Fred not Lynn

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Ooooh, I see, my bad. I guess the minors needs it's share of fungible warm bodies though, right?
And with the lockout making anyone on a 40-man MLB roster unavailable, you need to get some bodies ready to play the AAA season that’s NOT locked out…

I imagine it’s an opportunity for the fringe player, too - sign and play while the guys you’re competing with for MLB spots wait it out…and have a head start on them when/if the MLB season starts.
 

Deweys New Stance

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Ooooh, I see, my bad. I guess the minors needs it's share of fungible warm bodies though, right?
Yes, I get why he’d want to hang on for as long as he can, even if it’s not in The Show. Why not? He definitely loves to play baseball; he’s played winter ball for years.

But (and I’m asking sincerely) what do the Nats see here that’s even worth a MiL deal? He’s a decade removed from being a hot prospect in Cuba. He had a solid bat in AAA but he was old relative to the league. Then he was a bust in Japan last year, and he didn’t have a single extra base hit in winter ball. And he’ll be 35 in July. I mean, isn’t there some opportunity cost to this?

edit: I just saw FnL’s post about the lockout situation creating a need for warm bodies at the AAA level. I guess that’s as good an explanation as any.
 
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