Mets manager Terry Collins does not want to see second baseman Luis Castillo on the Opening Day roster, a baseball insider tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins, the source says, wants to limit the drama around the club and releasing Castillo potentially helps that cause.
Collins may not get his way as the decision is not solely his. One rival executive believes that the skipper will get his way and Castillo won't be with the team by the end of Spring Training. Meanwhile, scouts say Castillo is the best candidate to man second base, partly because his competition is less-than-fierce.
Even though Castillo might not have the manager's support, Rule 5 pick Brad Emaus has a backer in team executive J.P. Ricciardi. The 24-year-old infielder hasn't impressed so far in the Grapefruit League.
Who cares if Castillo is doing well this Spring? The Mets have no shot, they know it, and the fans know it(me being one of them). There is nothing positive about this team and the management simply needs to please the fans at this point, one way or another, in order to sell some tickets. Releasing Castillo+Ollie=happy fans…..just put someone at second who can catch the baseball.
Agreed…It doesn’t even matter who replaces Castillo and Perez, if they are released the fans will be happy(somewhat). I wouldn’t mind having Daniel Murphy at second.
What about brad emaus?
Emaus or Murphy would be fine, as long as Castillo isnt there. Keeping Ollie and Castillo makes the Mets seem insanely stubborn, like they don’t want to admit that those acquisitions were complete failures. They have already been there for far too long.
“Hu” can catch the baseball, you mean?
I think that we are about to hear about something that happened between Collins and Castillo. Something promoted this statement.
because Castillo still walks (more like limps) around like its 2002 and is resentful that there is even a competition.
YES
What happened to Ruben Tejada?
going to AAA to be the everyday SS, and work on his hitting.
Oh ok thanks i thought he was the second baseman for the mets last year? How was he?
very good defensive player, but couldn’t hit a lick. understandable as he was just 20 years old last year. they want him to get more seasoning in AAA and hopefully develop the bat because his glove his already ML ready
They brought Tejada up too early. Should have spent the entire season in the minors and probably this season as well.
I don’t like hearing comments like this coming from a manager. It makes it seem like the manager has a problem with the player or a problem with the general manager-which he may well have-but it’s not the kind of thing that should be made public.
They should handle Castillo like any employee decision-say nothing until you announce what the decision is. Nothing else should be said about it before or after.
it seems to be a lot of 3rd hand speculation. Not like collins came out and made a statement here!
Exactley. I just looked through that article and didn’t see any quotes from Collins. It’s kind of like when a friend of a friend says that a big free agent is going to {insert wrong destination here}
Something was said to someone expressing that thought. Collins very well could have said that to a friend of a friend, maybe even off the record. But my point still is he shouldn’t say that sort of thing to anyone but the GM.
I hope with the new GM they will make their decisions in a calm and reasoned matter and with a some professionalism. Make your decisions in private, then announce them to the public.
Exactly. The Mets have an opportunity here to get their house in order. These leaks or comments to whomever aren’t going to help their cause. Collins is far from the first manager to prefer a player not be on his team for whatever reason. Not that Mets fans necessarily disagree with him…
It seems he has become the Manny of 2011.
Except, Manny Ramirez has put up Hall of Fame numbers.
Despite the obvious differences between Manny and Castillo, the situation is probably a bit similar for Collins as it was for Francona. Don’t remember hearing anything about Francona wanting Manny on or off the team (just the players).
Can someone help me with this…
If a player is released, and claimed by another team, does the new team pay the league minimum or are they responsible for the remainder of the contract?
If he’s released, the league minimum. If they put him on waivers and someone claims him, that team is responsible for the remainder of the contract.
League minimum the former team pays the rest
I thought the rule was if a player is waived he can be claimed, if released he becomes an FA and signs with whatever team he wants. Maybe someone could explain.
A waived player can be claimed, however the claiming team is then responsible for the player’s remaining salary IN FULL. So release waivers are merely a formality for guys like Castillo, because no team would be willing to take on his remaining contract. After clearing waivers, the player is then released and becomes a free agent. He can then sign with any team, with the new team only being responsible for paying the player the league minimum while the former team assumes the rest of the remaining salary. That’s basically it, and these rules are only meant to apply to release waivers.
Thanks
just to clear up, that doesnt mean its limited to the league minimum he could be greedy and look for more , but most players will accept the LM, since they already are getting a higher paycheck and rather play than sit out.
i’ll allow it
Is that Rubin reporting good news? Nah
So…rumblings from camp indicate that Collins is against Castillo as the starting 2B becomes a “Collins wants Mets to Release Castillo” headline. Nice leap there. Ugh. Another low in baseball news reporting.
already we have nepotism goin on; Emaus hasn’t been worth the Jersey on his back, but it sounds like Ricciardi has got his back, so it stays on there I guess. The competition isn’t going well so we should release the one player with any history of success at the major league level at that position because it makes whiney fans happy? the same fans that will want Emaus tarred and feathered when he’s hitting 200 and commiting nightly errors. yet Ollie is still here because Sandy “promised” him he would get a “fair” chance? I’m hoping almost everything I’ve heard reported since camp started is complete BS because it’s all been contradictory, biased, and non-performance based non-sense.
just a tough, but Castillo if he stay, he’ll bat!!
Looks like the basement of the N.L. East for the next 5+ years belongs to the Mets
We figured we’d give you Nats fans some company.
It would shock me if Terry Collins and a player (give or take 25 or so) didn’t get along.
I see the Marlins getting him and him coming back to haunt the Mets come September.
Are you being sarcastic? #1 Castillo is only haunting the Mets in fans nightmares and #2 the Mets will be irrelevant come September….
The Mets are in a tough situation financially so any player not playing up to his contract worth is going to get a hard look. The best thing that they can do is cut their losses and try to start over…although having JP Riccardi there is an even bigger concern.
with their tough finances i think its complete opposite, players are given more of a chance, cuz there is less of a chance they will be released and given free money. being money smart would not be cutting large contracts you still have to pay regardless, mid spring training when there is no need to cut him. everyone is getting PT and they are a) working with him b) window shopping him.
its not smart to show your poker hand while people are still betting.
they are doing everything right in this case.
castillo is no longer a good fielder (get over the dropped pop up) hes slow to his sides, weak armed on double plays and have had numerous times where with 2 outs and a runner on first he didnt cover second and forced the play to first from third or short.
castillo is a slap hitter, with very good bat control and plate vision with no power.
please reference sandys, paul , jp and terrys ideal players and see where castillo fits in? oh yeah he doesnt. this article basically says terry told someone, who told someone else, what everyone else assumes as fact. yawn.
J.P. Continuing on showing why he is the worst advisor in baseball. Emaus is horrible, J.P. will ruin a team to prove a point and rarely is right.
I’m fine with this, I just don’t understand naming Luis Hernandez as starter.
How about a trade? Cubs trade Carlos Silva and Blake DeWitt to the Mets for Luis Castillo and prospect. I believe the money matches up because the Mariners are paying some of Silva’s contract this season.
Both teams trade their respective headaches…
Great idea. Try to reduce drama by specifically stating you don’t want him on your team. Oh wait…
Mets should put their best 25 on the field. It’s not like they have a better option at second.
“Collins may not get his way as the decision is not solely his.”
Why would you have a manager if you don’t trust his decisions?
That seems to be a reason to get another manager.