White Sox Acquire Ramon Castro, DFA Miller

Man oh man. I was never a huge fan of Castro, even though he is easily the best offensive catcher the Mets have, he always annoyed me because I thought he could have been more. He never seemed dedicated to baseball, or staying in shape. Three years in a row he went down when he was needed most, when he would have finally gotten MLB time. That said, he is much better then Santos. I like Santos, I think he has done more then anybody could have asked from him, but still. Send him back down to the minors and call him back up later in the year, when Schneider or Castro inevitably goes down again.

It is probably the fault of Metsblog that most of the fanbase has hopped onto the Omir Santos is the best player in the world bandwagon, and like I said, he has definitely been useful, but Castro/Schneid is still easily the best catching combo the Mets can go with. If the Mets eat Castro's entire salary, the should be able to get a decent enough player back, Castro is capable of .250/.320/.450 type line... if he can stay healthy.

At this point, I think the Mets need to eat the contract, especially if they can get something decent in return. I can't see the reasoning behind sending Santos back down considering the pitching staff has stepped it up and seem to enjoy throwing to him.

Castro for Branyan

From the Mets perspective what is the hurry in trading Ramon Castro? How productive is he just hitting .253BA, 3HRS and 13RBI. How are his defensive skills? You might look at it and say well they called up Guillermo Quiroz when they lost Johjima for close to 2 months.

And why would the M's try to trade for him? Its not as if the M's are short on MLB ready catchers. They have Jamie Burke in their minor league system hitting a .367BA as the back up for the Tacoma Rainiers. Burke was told that the M's were going in a different/younger direction and that is why he was not called up. While Jeff Clement is bothered by knee injury and unavailable to catch they also have Adam Moore who could use an opportunity to prove himself.

Even if this trade makes sense what would the Mets want in return. Maybe this is an opportunity to deal Washburn in a deal. Something like Washburn to the Mets for SP Dillon GEE, C Ramon Castro and SS Ruben Tejada

"Maybe this is an opportunity to deal Washburn in a deal. Something like Washburn to the Mets for SP Dillon GEE, C Ramon Castro and SS Ruben Tejada"

Maybe the Mets should throw in David Wright too.

I think the Giants were looking for a good backup catcher to Bengie. Could be a fit. I don't know who the Mets would want in return.

meh i could find better

"I think the Giants were looking for a good backup catcher to Bengie. Could be a fit. I don't know who the Mets would want in return."

That actually would make a lot of sense. In the sense that the Giants could acquire Castro to back up Molina for now, trade Molina later on in the season, and make Castro the starter (since Posey probs won't be ready this season)

"It has been said that he has remade himself. With the Mets so eager to trade Castro, this deal is more like Washburn for Gee/Tejada."

Oh, I'm sorry. Since it has been said that he has remade himself, that literally changes everything. Fernando Martinez, Brad Holt, and Wilmer Flores should seal the deal in the case. My mistake, I did not know that he had remade himself.

Hey ICE no need for bashing. It was the Rays Manager who had said that Washburn had "re-invented himself". I don't know much about other teams minor league systems and how important their players stand. I do know a fairly good deal about the M's and its organization. All I am saying is that Washburn is having what is close to a career year for him and it could be a good time for a contender such as the Mets to take advantage of this. They don't even have to keep him around after the season if they don't like what they see because he is on the final year of his contract. I think he is worth at least two Decent minor league prospects.

Castro to the M's?!?! Uuummm NO! Won't happen M's will be sellers here soon enough.

Can you say Phillies and M's Pitching deal!

Bastardo SP and Donald SS going to the AL...For Bedard or Washburn...

Santos is too good of a hitter hes won us 3 or 4 games this year

If Santos is any better then Castro (he isn't), it is not even close to enough better to lose Castro just to keep Santos on the big squad. Castro isn't a great hitter, but he is a dangerous hitter, and a better hitter then Santos is. Believe me, I don't love Castro by any means, like I said I always felt like he could be better if he was in better shape and dedicated himself to baseball. But Castro is a much better offensive player then Santos, even Schneider is, Schneider will give you the same empty .250-.260 average as Santos, but atleast he has some plate discipline.

Again, I like Santos and he has done well for the Mets. But I definitely don't think that you bet Castro on the fact that Santos is going to sustain this offensive production he has never seen before. What happens in 2 months when Santos is sitting at .240/.270./.380 and Castro is gone. Then what do you do. The biggest thing here is if you send Santos down you don't lose anybody and Santos is still here if you need him. You would lose Castro just to have Santos stay on the big team? I wouldn't.

Seems like a dumb move for the Sox to be taking in another catcher With Corky and Flowers waiting in the wings when AJ is done

Omir Santos hits a homerun and a walk off single to win the game. Omir Santos is the best catcher in the league and he must not be moved. Okay.

Seriously though, a couple points for Buzz. One, yes, if you count RBI's and BA as the two most important things, they look similar. If you care anything at all about OBP or SLG, then there is not much comparison. Two, if you feel like they are a wash, then why would you be willing to lose Castro to keep Santos on the roster, rather then send Santos down and have both guys remain in the organization. Wouldn't that be the best bet, if in fact they are a wash?

i can see castro in a package for penny or in a bigger package for dye.
not for nothing, but Santos brings a lot to the table that the Mets dont have at C... high energy, good defense, SP likes pitching to him, good speed, & he has been very clutch.
Castro is good, but very expendible to help bring in an OF or SP.
They cant move schneider. Also, they still have Thole & Cancel in the minors who are good enough just-in-case catchers.

metzfan22- I agree with you that Schneider doesnt seem to help their lineup that much...maybe I am remembering wrong, but hopefully he will come back a better hitter.

NrMax -- we are screwed.... manuel just said on the post-game santos will be on this team tomorrow... jerry is heading into willie territory with his stupidity. and i love sheff to

Wow, you guys seriously want to keep Castro? The guy is a load behind the plate, pitchers can't be confident to throw off the plate and in the dirt because he won't move for anything but lunch.

Yeah, he gets some hits, but he makes no attempt to adjust himself at the plate, watch Santos, he can hit hard stuff, as well as adjust his swing to drive the ball the other way.

Castro also has no spark, this team needs those guys who will make the best of the chances they are given. Look at Tatis last year, Santos this year.

We would have gotten rid of Castro in the Spring, but no one wanted the contract, so what has he done since then to show the team he should stay?

Traded to the Sox for Lance Broadway

ice -- i dont think castro is very good either... our catchers are pretty damn awful... but that GW hit is 90 percent of the time a weak liner to the SS with the IF at normal depth. the smartest thing to do as mentioned already here is to send santos down and... well castro was traded... just heard it on WFAN. F!CK! send santos down and hang on to him till schneid or castro gets injured... luckily we have valentin at AAA

"Yeah, he gets some hits, but he makes no attempt to adjust himself at the plate, watch Santos, he can hit hard stuff, as well as adjust his swing to drive the ball the other way."

I agree with this. Castro gets a fraction of production from what his talent is capable of giving him. Santos gets almost 100 percent out of himself. This makes it seem like Santos is the better player, but he just isn't. Even in the limited sample size above his head this year, he still isn't better then Castro. I am not very fond of Castro, and I love Santos and his passion and all that, but when it comes down to it, Castro just has a track record of being a reasonably productive major league hitter, where Santos has a track record of being a pretty poor minor league hitter. I would love for the Mets to move Castro and for Santos to continue on like this all year, I just can't make my heart tell my head that 80 plate appearances of sort of good offense out weighs over 2000 plate appearances where he wasn't productive at all.

buzz128: How is it a bad trade? The kid is 25 and a former first round pick. I think this is a good trade. And Minaya said money is being exchanged. He pans out to his potential he could be good. If any Sox fans would give us a scouting report that would be good.

The team is better with Castro. Santos will be the more productive player b/c he will play more often. They need to get younger at that position, too, even if it's just backup.

Santos' game winning hit doesn't change anything for me. I've wanted Castro gone for years and they finally have a player to justify dumping him.

BTW nrmax, still think the Santana deal was a mistake?

numbers, numbers, numbers!

All you guys see is numbers!

This isn't a video game or a Fantasy League, it's the real thing and heart and attitude count just as much as stats.

It is a delicate balance and it is what wins championships. If Santos reverts to his career averages, but those hits are the type he has been getting we will never look back at what Castro did, and didn't do.

captkeith -- i am all fine with heart grission edge or whatever... but unfortunately it is a subjective opinion... what makes these guys have heart? well generally at least IMO its luck (high babip).

I'm a sox fan,

Broadway is not overpowering, strictly finesse. 87-89 rarely 90mph. Nice change up. Been a long reliever and used when we r up big or down a lot. In the NL, 4-5 starter. I kinds liked him, but Richard has established himself now so he was expendable

what??? lance broadway the once cant miss prospect for a washed up catcher

williams must really be losing it

good deal for minaya though

"numbers, numbers, numbers!

All you guys see is numbers!"

Yes, well, numbers are what make baseball baseball. Having heart and trying hard, unfortunately, don't make it more likely for you to get a big hit in a big spot.

The guy9, he was a can't miss prospect a while ago...now he's a long reliever, maybe back end in the nl. Kenny got a nice backup catcher and now poreda may get a shot at the bigs. He is an actual can't miss prospect

Castro will help the chisox. the man def has power and in most catching situations there isnt much more one can ask for. the piazzas mccans and vmarts are few and far between. in the end this trade will hurt us

"Do I still think it was a mistake to give a pitcher a 7 year contract? Yes. Make however many snide remarks you want, but if you think I am going to concede the point that giving a pitcher a 7 year deal is a bad idea, no matter who the pitcher, after 1.25 seasons into said 7 year deal, I am not. "

It was a 6-year deal.

I cant wait to see Dwight Howard just bulldoze all over gasol odom and bynum. I may hate stephen a smith but "odom and gasol are as soft as wet tissue paper" was a classic line from the 2008 finals. I am so damn tired of these Lakers flags on peoples cars.

I wanna hear scribbles opinion on this trade. all i know is we shoulda gotten beckham for castro.... thats total fair value for a guy who just got repaced by omir freakin santos! damnit this is as frustrated as i could possibly be after a win..

"It was a 6-year deal."

Yes, a 6 year deal with an option for 25 million dollars in 2014 that he is already halfway to making a player option. If he wins one CY Young, and finished 2nd or 3rd in any year from 2008-2013, the option vests. He finished in 3rd last year, so if he wins the CY Young this year, or any year during the contract, the option vests. If he finishes better then 3rd two more times, the option vests. I would think two top 3 finishes in the next 5 years, or one win, is pretty likely(especially since right now he would be considered the front runner). So again, keep up the snarky little comments, that is much better then actually taking the 3 or 4 minutes to check up on what you are saying.

nrmax -- ignore it, although i disagree with you (we needed to get santana) your argument is valid. i just feel being a big market team we need to make these types of deals for the best pitcher in baseball

Arghhhhhh. I wish they would've traded Schneider instead, he's an automatic out at the plate, and his defense isn't that spectacular. And Broadway sucks. They should've at least tried to get a 1B, as SP isn't really much of a big need right now,

"anyone have any insight on why the sox did this trade

it jus seems very 1 sided is castro rly that much of a upgrade over Pierzynski

i jus dont see why the sox felt they had to make this trade"

Castro wasn't acquired to be an upgrade over AJ.

The starting catcher plays fewer games on average than starting players at other positions.

When considering that Corky Miller should NEVER be allowed another MLB AB, acquiring Castro for a guy who probably won't be more than a middle reliever.

Considering that the Sox have black holes at CF and 3B, maximizing production at C is a good idea.

I wouldn't call CF a hole right now. Brian Anderson is hitting better than half of the starters at this point.

Yea corky miller is beyong awful.. kw just gave javy to the braves...

Lets see what moving from an AL launching pad to an NL pitchers haven can do for Broadway. Though I won't hold my breath.

He could be a solid 5 or decent 4, but I wouldn't hope for much more than that out of him. Recently he's been being used in mop up it seems.

Honestly, this deal makes no sense.

The Mets are eating the salary, so it isn't a salary dump.

They got a former top prospect who probably won't be much more than a middle reliever.

This is just an illogical cleaning of Jerry Manuel's doghouse.

the Trade was Flowers, Lillibridge and a lower level pitcher. There might have been one other player coming to the Sox, which I think there was, and Boone Logan to the Braves also.

and logic is generally absent when dealing with manuel and minaya...

Omir Santos:

.276, .306, .474, .780 OPS

5 BB, 14 SO

Ramon Castro:

.253, .322, .430, .752 OPS

8 BB, 16 SO

I'm not a big fan of the trade, but let's stop acting like Castro has been significantly better than Santos.

The downfall of the Mets will not be their backup catcher...

Why are people acting as if Castro is anything special? Hes a serviceable backup catcher with some pop, but nothing over the top.. thats it.. and hes also very injury prone.. im happy we got a guy who was ranked 2nd overall prospect in the CHW organization in 2008.

"im happy we got a guy who was ranked 2nd overall prospect in the CHW organization in 2008."

He ranked 2 because 3 of the top 5 guys in the White Sox farm system had just been traded for Nick Swisher.

The system was completely gutted until the '08 draft and the Viciedo signing brought life back to it.

@nrmax88 Gary announced on monday that keith had a week vacation. Well his last gm was last week Thursday in LA, so I guess u could b right.

"Considering that the Sox have black holes at CF and 3B, maximizing production at C is a good idea." - Posted by: melonis rex

Beckham has been moved to 3B in AAA ... Fields is on borrowed time. Also, Jordan Danks has been moved to CF at AA and will probably be sharing CF with Anderson soon.

Hey Melonis, do you think this trade means that AJ will be moved?