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Phillies Sign Luis Castillo

By Mike Axisa | March 21, 2011 at 7:00am CDT

The Phillies officially signed Luis Castillo to a minor league deal, the team announced today.  He'd been released by the Mets on Friday.  The Mets are on the hook for the 35-year-old's $6MM salary, less the league minimum that Philadelphia will pay him.  Castillo will either make the team or be released, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters this morning.

The Phillies have a question mark at second base right now given Chase Utley's knee injury, and Castillo gives them a veteran stopgap. Although he hit just .235/.337/.267 in 299 plate appearances last season, Castillo is only a year removed from a .387 OBP. More than 2,500 MLBTR readers predicted that Castillo would join the Phillies, and Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com was first to tweet the agreement.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Luis Castillo

MLBTR Originals: 3/13/11 – 3/20/11
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View Comments (94)
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94 Comments

  1. notsureifsrs

    14 years ago

    everyone gets a fresh start at funny. go!

    Reply
    • Ryan

      14 years ago

      Yet you continue to waste yours……

      Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        14 years ago

        0-1 wait for your pitch

        Reply
        • Ryan

          14 years ago

          FAIL.

          Reply
          • notsureifsrs

            14 years ago

            more of a ryan church than a ryan howard then, eh friend?

            Reply
            • Ryan

              14 years ago

              Dude, you really try wayyyy too hard.

              Reply
              • JacksTigers

                14 years ago

                Actually it sounds like your trying way too hard.

                Reply
              • notsureifsrs

                14 years ago

                bill james’ projection for your next comment is womp/womp/womp

                Reply
                • TartanElk

                  14 years ago

                  Bill James’ projections for my next comment have no statistically relevant measuring system.

                  Reply
                • Lunchbox45

                  14 years ago

                  wow. finished him

                  Shang Tsung’s soul sucking

                  Reply
                  • TartanElk

                    14 years ago

                    Flawless Victory.

                    Reply
  2. David

    14 years ago

    So the Phillies are an awesome team, no doubt about it and my Mets are terrible, probably going to finish last in the division….but when a Met hits a pop-up to Castillo, and he drops it, I’m going to die laughing.

    Reply
    • vtadave

      14 years ago

      Good for you. Can you point me to a few games where he’s dropped popups?

      Reply
      • whatever

        14 years ago

        IF they werent playing the Yanks, Im sure that whole fiasco would of been a lot different.

        Reply
      • David

        14 years ago

        It’s a joke…I know the whole pop-up thing was overblown, geez.

        Reply
  3. sellitman

    14 years ago

    With our luck he will have a career year and we will be footing the bill.

    Reply
    • Thomas L

      14 years ago

      Not unlike Wilson Valdez last season….

      Reply
      • Anthony

        14 years ago

        What the hell?

        Reply
        • Thomas L

          14 years ago

          I’m not sure what you’re shocked about? I’m not someone saying Valdez was an MVP for the Phillies last year… but you can’t deny he had a career year…

          Reply
  4. Henry Sanchez

    14 years ago

    Phillies LOVE Met rejects lol

    Reply
    • frank_costanza

      14 years ago

      Yeah except they play well for the Phillies, i.e. Wilson Valdez

      Reply
      • Anthony

        14 years ago

        Why do people keep saying Valdez played well? He was slightly above average defensively and provided a .256, .301, .356 line in place of Utley.

        Reply
        • John Anthony

          14 years ago

          Yeah I would agree with you. I think he was good defensibly though; horrible offensive year despite his .250 average which is decent. He would have lead the league in GDP if he didn’t only play 88 games. I thought he played well though overall.

          I’m happy with this signing, at the very least he gives you obp in the 8th spot which would allow the pitcher to bunt him into scoring position for Rollins/Victorino.

          If he bombs, you cut him and it’s like he was never here.

          Reply
        • frank_costanza

          14 years ago

          Numbers really do only tell half of the story. He really was the Phillies MVP last year.

          Reply
          • Bender44

            14 years ago

            I’d say Chooch was the MVP for a better part of the year. Valdez had his moments though.

            Reply
          • Anthony

            14 years ago

            Wilson Valdez was the Phillies MVP last year? I think/hope you’re being sarcastic, but I can never tell on here.

            Not Roy Halladay, NL Cy Young winner? Cole Hamels? Carlos Ruiz? Jayson Werth?

            Wilson Valdez? I know numbers don’t tell the whole story, but come on. He gave the team replacement level offensive production in Utley’s absence.

            But if you’re being sarcastic like I’m guessing, ignore all that.

            Reply
            • hoagiebuchanan

              14 years ago

              After watching Wilson Valdez pick it for most of the year, no that isn’t sarcasm. He’s a slick fielder who more than makes up for his GDP’s playing gold-glove caliber defense anywhere in the infield.

              Reply
              • Anthony

                14 years ago

                Gold Glove caliber? What does that even mean? Nate McLouth has a Gold Glove. Jeter has like 427 of them.

                But I can’t really speak on his defense. I don’t trust defensive metrics and it’s too small of a sample size anyway. He was certainly at least average.

                Reply
          • guydavis

            14 years ago

            Hahahaha. Is this sarcasm? This has to be sarcasm, right?

            Reply
        • Bender44

          14 years ago

          Because he was expected to be terrible and he exceeded that by being mediocre. Gotta look on the bright side of things. Glass half full.

          Reply
        • tr2008

          14 years ago

          disagree there. he was well above average defensively. in fact, he was a better fielder than rollins when he was healthy and plays multiple positions….this is a bad move

          Reply
        • Patricio

          14 years ago

          Even though Valdez had a fairly weak line he was pretty darn clutch, something that is an absolute mystery to the Mets.

          Reply
    • John Anthony

      14 years ago

      [never mind.]

      Reply
    • Elliot 2

      14 years ago

      Lol Brian Shneider did amazing for the phillies last year very solid backup. I have faith Louis will do yh

      Reply
  5. MetsEventually

    14 years ago

    Castillo will find a way to beat the Mets, in a crucial game at Citi Field.

    Reply
    • nepp

      14 years ago

      Shouldn’t be hard. Though hopefully the Phillies actually score some runs at Citi Field this year.

      Reply
    • JaySchu

      14 years ago

      What crucial game?

      Reply
      • MetsEventually

        14 years ago

        Well, I meant like that Eric Bruntlett play (BAH)

        Reply
      • Stl_Great

        14 years ago

        The battle for last place, go Nats!

        Reply
    • jasonk

      14 years ago

      You’re assuming the Mets will play “crucial” games this year? Aw. Cute.

      Reply
  6. Redsox1324

    14 years ago

    The phillies aren’t the favorites to go to the series anymore…..

    Reply
    • Ian Riccaboni

      14 years ago

      Because they signed a player to a minor league contract?

      Reply
      • Redsox1324

        14 years ago

        Dude, I was being sarcastic.

        Reply
    • Ryan

      14 years ago

      They have 13/4 odds, best in the NL. Unless the Red Sawx are moving to the NL, bodog.com still likes their chances.

      Reply
  7. monkeyspanked

    14 years ago

    The “No Duh!” of the weekend.

    Reply
  8. frank_costanza

    14 years ago

    I guess it makes sense since its a very low risk deal, but I dont think it was necessary. At this point in all of their careers, Barfield/Valdez/Martinez are better players than Castillo.

    Reply
    • dylanp5030

      14 years ago

      I agree.

      Reply
  9. dylanp5030

    14 years ago

    Can’t wait to watch him!….

    ….in Allentown

    Reply
    • Ian Riccaboni

      14 years ago

      Go Pigs!

      Reply
  10. piro18

    14 years ago

    A minor league deal is nothing. Im guessing they take a look at him the rest of spring training and if he stinks it up he will be sent down.

    Low-Risk, High reward

    Reply
    • eDaPS

      14 years ago

      I definitely agree with the low-risk part. But…uh…..

      Reply
      • piro18

        14 years ago

        haha ok, low risk, moderate reward

        Reply
        • MauerPower

          14 years ago

          Low risk, low reward?

          Reply
          • Andy

            14 years ago

            must we even use the word “reward”?

            Reply
            • Redsox1324

              14 years ago

              How about low risk- it could be worse?

              Reply
          • piro18

            14 years ago

            Well odds are it will be no reward but if he can somehow channel 2009, Id have to say that would be a decent reward.

            Odds are he will start the season in AAA and if he does anything they would bring him up. I just dont see him starting the season on the 25 man roster.

            Reply
  11. Anthony

    14 years ago

    Let’s face it, with Utley out the Phillies are gonna need guys who can get on base. Rollins and Victorino are slightly above-average(Rollins might not be anymore though) and at Castillo’s worst he’s a .335 OBP guy. Valdez is better defensively, but he can’t really get on base at a solid clip.

    Reply
  12. greggofboken

    14 years ago

    Enjoy the $414,000 lawn ornament. It goes well with the statuary that you have out in left.

    Reply
    • Bender44

      14 years ago

      Statuary? A collection of statues?

      How many Ibanez’s do they Phillies have out in left anyway?

      Reply
      • JaySchu

        14 years ago

        Three.

        Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        14 years ago

        NOT ENOUGH AMIRITE

        Reply
      • greggofboken

        14 years ago

        One too many.

        Reply
  13. John Anthony

    14 years ago

    Wrong met. I wanted David Wright.

    Reply
    • dc21892

      14 years ago

      LOL.

      Reply
  14. 3rdStrike

    14 years ago

    Brian Schneider, Wilson Valdez, Luis Castillo. Am I missing anymore former Mets that the Phillies signed immediately after they were let go in NY?

    Reply
    • Anthony

      14 years ago

      Reyes is as good as gone this year, coincidentally Rollins last year of his contract as well. So we might add another name to that list for 2012.

      I do hope they sign Oliver Perez though.

      Reply
      • John Anthony

        14 years ago

        I would be in favor of this. When he’s on, Reyes is the best leadoff hitter in the game. I just hate his celebrations but I feel like I would love them if he was in a Phillies uni.

        Reply
    • Bender44

      14 years ago

      Figueroa

      Reply
    • greggofboken

      14 years ago

      Nelson Figueroa. They were also in on Jeff Francoeur. (Cholly liked him, but Amaro wasn’t interested. Which is why Amaro is the one with more than one pair of shoes.) Be sure to check the team photo for new clubhouse manager, Charlie Samuels.

      Reply
      • John Anthony

        14 years ago

        Actually, they were interested, Francoeur chose KC because he thought he would have more playing time.

        Reply
    • SRT

      14 years ago

      Pedro, although not exactly immediately.

      Reply
  15. Anthony

    14 years ago

    Last year when the Braves traded Yunel Escobar for Alex Gonzalez, Frank Wren said of Gonzalez ‘He’s a winner.’

    Castillo has two rings, right? I really hope I get to hear those words from RAJ soon regarding Castillo. Hell, he might forget that he even signed him by tomorrow though.

    Reply
    • greggofboken

      14 years ago

      Castillo has one ring. Just like Gollum. (Separated at birth)

      Reply
      • Anthony

        14 years ago

        Ahh, for some reason I thought he was with the Marlins during both of their championships.

        Reply
      • jasonk

        14 years ago

        I’d rather see Gollum at 2B than Castillo.

        Reply
  16. Ron Kerzner, Sr.

    14 years ago

    You go from Chase Utley to Louis Castillo? Life is good for a Mets fan

    Reply
    • JaySchu

      14 years ago

      Not really. Amaro has proven to be as incompetent as Dayton Moore and Omar Minaya and yet we’re still not remotely close to catching the Phillies 😛 2-3 years though? The Phillies will be back in the basement where they belong.

      Reply
  17. JON B

    14 years ago

    to all philly fans lotsa luck with this mummy. you all deserve him.

    Reply
  18. alexchicago14

    14 years ago

    i feel like chicago just dodged a jim hendry bullet of a mistake…..i would like to thank the cubs for not perusing too much, and the phils for panicking about chase utley…..

    Reply
    • nm344

      14 years ago

      if only jim hendry’s mistakes were minor league depth signings.

      Reply
  19. kirksquare

    14 years ago

    How is it that Castillo refused to platoon at second, but now signs a minor league contract? Whatever, Castillo is having a great Spring, but is defensive liability. Philly, you got a good back-up. Please do not slam my Mets on this bord too badly. PS Enjoy Reyes next year because of our Fraudulent Owners

    Reply
    • yeyeye72

      14 years ago

      The difference is that he was unemployed when he signed that minor league contract…

      Reply
  20. vank

    14 years ago

    Well we Phils fans don’t have to worry about a visitation to Walter Reed to visit injured soldiers getting in the way of him taking extra BP.

    Reply

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