http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/08/22/red-sox-agree-to-seven-year-deal-with-rusney-castillo/According to an industry source, the Red Sox have reached agreement with Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo on a seven-year, $72.5 million deal that will take effect starting in 2014 and run through 2020.
Laser Show said:Can't link on mobile but both Speier and Edes saying 7 years rather than 6
1. Castillo is sign until 33. Ells is 36 or 37.Plympton91 said:This is far more balanced than OptimusPapis presentation of things. A lot of the guys who produced the championships in 2004 and 2007 were acquired by previous owners and many of the best scouts and assistant GMs and GM from those years are now working for other teams.
Castillo for more than the Yankees gave Gardner and half what they gave Ellsbury would be quite a statement of confidence in their scouts. Hopefully they'll get him.
One thing to consider in the value is the premium they place on defense and how much easier it is to project that than it is to project offense. If they think he's a 1 or 2 dWAR player then $12 million per season to play CF or RF in Fenway isn't that much of a gamble.
I think they may have decided Craig's foot will keep him out of the outfield from now on. They traded for him as a LF, but got a 1B/DH once they looked a little closer.MakMan44 said:Still got Craig too.
Hmm. Wonder how much he's getting this year.Corsi said:
Because the contract technically starts this year.
[Rajai] Davis might not be the flashiest comp, but during his age 27-29 seasons, Davis amassed 6.5 Wins Above Replacement (per Baseball-Reference.com), with a peak of 3.3 WAR for Oakland as a 28-year-old in 2008. That’s an average of a little over 2 WAR per season at the same age as Castillo, which is a league-average player.
That, however, was before Castillo increased his raw power. If Castillo can give teams comparable production to 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.
Do we care if he's worth the contract? The greater worry to me is the opportunity cost; he's making too much to send down or bench and you only have 9 lineup spots. If it leads them to trade Betts and not pursue other options and Rusney is "only" worth the contract (2 wins) that's not going to help much with the poor lineup.Plympton91 said:Puig and Abreu are the biggest bargains in baseball. He doesn't gave to be as good as they are to be worth this contract. All he has to be is Daniel Nava with more speed and a less drastic platoon split.
Dan to Theo to Ben said:When should the debut be?
um, nobluefenderstrat said:He's Carl Crawford!
Laser Show said:Can't link on mobile but both Speier and Edes saying 7 years rather than 6
bluefenderstrat said:He's Carl Crawford!
Wouldn't it still be prudent to keep Betts at Pawtucket as a 2B? I know Pedroia is under contract to/through 2021, but it would be great to have Betts in the wings, especially if Dustin's health/ability takes a dive. Not to mention, Betts has shown the ability to play OF and will only be 22 in October. Kid has time, no?glennhoffmania said:
I think this means they'll trade Bradley and/or Betts. I hate the idea of hoarding prospects who have value and then getting nothing out of them or for them. See Brandon Wood.
Moves entirely consistent with Ben circling April "15 as go live date. The bridge ends this year.Pilgrim said:The FA outfield class is pretty horrible, so they should have any easy time selling off whoever they don't want. Strange set of moves since the deadline, though.
foulkehampshire said:
A RHH in-his-prime Carl Crawford type is a pretty dangerous weapon in Fenway/AL East.
ah sorry, I thought you meant today's Crawford...bluefenderstrat said:
Yeah, I wrote that tongue-in-cheek. Crawford's early seasons (minus the 70 SB) would a terrific ceiling for Castillo.
Anyone have info on this? Obviously his 2 years prior were spectacular.Madmartigan said:Was he injured last year? Why did he put up just a .770 OPS?
doesn't sound like on-base skills are his strong suit. He does have speed. here's some excerpts from scouting report:LostinNJ said:Can he lead off? Sounds like his speed is good, but do we know anything about his on-base skills?
Trading Betts was the first thing that came to mind for me. Flipped to the Phillies as the centerpiece of a Hamels trade or in some other trade for a young starter? Is Betts a fit on the Reds?glennhoffmania said:
I think this means they'll trade Bradley and/or Betts. I hate the idea of hoarding prospects who have value and then getting nothing out of them or for them. See Brandon Wood.
SouthernBoSox said:Anyone have info on this? Obviously his 2 years prior were spectacular.
Madmartigan said:Was he injured last year? Why did he put up just a .770 OPS?
1. There are a million other differences between Castillo and Ellsbury too; however, many have compared Castillo to Gardner with more power. Given the value of the contract they gave him, they must hold a similar view. I am with you on the Castillo signing; you just have to trust the FO and their evaluation of his offensive and defensive potential. He's a free agent, and this valuation is of a middle-tier free agent, so they are balanced in terms of both upside and downside risks, I think.OptimusPapi said:1. Castillo is sign until 33. Ells is 36 or 37.
2. I know the fo is not infallible, but I will gladly take a 2012 and a 2014 if it means a bunch of playoff appearances and 3 world series. I guess I am realistic that way.
3.ells, pedroia, beckett shill and Ortiz are all products of this ownership. You want to try to make a point you didn't pull from your ass? Based on my lurking I understand that's difficult for you.
yes. sounds like he might be able to handle CFScubaSteveAvery said:The Masslive article posted above states that he's added 20 pounds of muscle since defecting. It's possible that he will flash more power in the states than Cuba.
Plus, I love that defensive scouting report: good instincts, good first step, fast closing speed, and efficient routes.
sounds right--Cumberland Blues said:
I believe he was suspended for an earlier defection attempt. Trying to find a link.
I don't know why you would trade Betts++ for the right to pay a guy 20 mil. I had a pro scout tell me that Betts would be our best player in 2 years. I said, "But but but Xander--" He said Betts. I don't think you trade the guy for anyone other than Stanton and certainly not for a pitcher who makes 20 mil or Douchebag Mat Latos. Keep Betts, sign Lester, Scherzer, Shields, Iwakuma, etc.Stitch01 said:Trading Betts was the first thing that came to mind for me. Flipped to the Phillies as the centerpiece of a Hamels trade or in some other trade for a young starter? Is Betts a fit on the Reds?
good points. also, dealing with the Phillies sounds like a nightmareHee Sox Choi said:I don't know why you would trade Betts++ for the right to pay a guy 20 mil. I had a pro scout tell me that Betts would be our best player in 2 years. I said, "But but but Xander--" He said Betts. I don't think you trade the guy for anyone other than Stanton and certainly not for a pitcher who makes 20 mil or Douchebag Mat Latos. Keep Betts, sign Lester, Scherzer, Shields, Iwakuma, etc.
You don't trade 6 years of Betts for the right to pay a guy 20+ mil, especially when we most likely will have a protected pick.
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal 35s
Sources: Deal between #RedSox, Castillo, when finished, will be 7 yrs., $72.5M, but almost completely backloaded, with little money in ’14.
Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal 34s
With this structure, #RedSox will get break on average salary for luxury-tax purposes while Castillo will get record total for Cuban FA.
Madmartigan said:Was he injured last year? Why did he put up just a .770 OPS?
If the articles I'm reading are right, Castillo hasn't played professional baseball since 2012. Tossing him straight into ML games at this point seems... ambitious.Stan Papi Was Framed said:could be soon--Over the Monster suggests he could join the MLB club right away (assuming someone is moved)
um, no
NJ Fan said:I can't help but think that if he plays for the Sox the rest of this season and performs well, he's then part of a cost-controlled package that's dangled to the Marlins for Stanton.