Remember Rusney Castillo? Signed to a seven-year, $72.5MM contract in August 2014, the Cuban outfielder had a rough season in the majors with the Red Sox the next year and has barely appeared in the majors since. The Red Sox have minimized their luxury-tax bill by keeping Castillo in the minors, and he’s likely to stay with Triple-A Pawtucket this season, but he’ll be a free agent thereafter. The 32-year-old discussed his status with Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald, saying: “My goal remains the same: I want to make it to the big leagues. And if given the opportunity, give 100% to Boston. That’s the goal, to get up there.” As Mastrodonato notes, there’s at least an outside chance Castillo will return to Boston late in the season if the team’s well under the tax threshold by then (he’s due a $14.3MM salary, so it could be a tall order to fit him in). Castillo will first have to impress in Pawtucket for that to happen, though. He wasn’t great at the highest level of the minors in 2019, when he hit .278/.321/.448 with 17 home runs in 493 plate appearances.
- Sticking with the Red Sox, ace Chris Sale has been on the mend from 2019 elbow problems and a recent bout of pneumonia, but he’s recovering well. Sale’s “progressing quickly and could begin to face live hitters soon,” Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com writes. However, it’s not clear whether Sale will be ready for the start of the season. The 30-year-old had a stunning amount of difficulty preventing runs in 2019, when his ERA ballooned from 2.11 the prior season to a career-worst 4.40, but most of his other numbers looked fine. Sale notched a 3.39 FIP/2.93 xFIP with 13.32 K/9 and 2.26 BB/9, suggesting he’s still a front-of-the-rotation talent.
- Indians closer Brad Hand turned in excellent overall production yet again in 2019, but his effectiveness waned to a worrisome degree from late June through the end of the season. That was thanks in part to injuries that limited him to 57 1/3 innings – his fewest in more than a half-decade. Hand dealt with left arm fatigue that kept him out of action for a large portion of September, and he ended the year with his worst average fastball velocity (92.9 mph, compared to 94.1 in 2018) since 2012. “For whatever reason this tired arm affected my arm slot and pitches,” Hand told Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com, adding, “This year I’ll probably take a few more steps and stay ahead of it.” Manager Terry Francona’s hopeful that Hand will build up his velocity slowly this spring, as opposed to maxing out before the season starts. This is the last guaranteed year on Hand’s contract, but if he continues to hold his own, it’s hard to believe the Indians (or, if they trade him, another team) won’t exercise his $10MM club option for 2021.
- Angels manager Joe Maddon will sit down with first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols nearer to the season to discuss his 2020 role, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer appeared in 131 games last season, but it went down as the third straight campaign in which he logged below-replacement-level numbers. Pujols batted .244/.305/.430 with 23 homers and minus-0.2 fWAR over 545 plate appearances. The majority of his work came at first, though he may have to battle Tommy La Stella for reps at the position this season. And Pujols probably won’t get much time at DH because of the presence of Shohei Ohtani.
I’ll never forgive them allowing the Brockstar to leave. He was one of the special players they have on n off field. Who cares about Castillo?
Time to move on, not mention Holt in every post.
You prolly didn’t watch the games n appreciate a player like him. Devers is another fave along with X man.
Devers and Bogaerts are worthy of being favs though…. they’re in a totally different class than Holt lol
I disagree. Holt was more than just an on the field presence. He did a lot of charity work for Boston, is a class act, and the best utility guy we have had in years. Bloom will regret not signing him especially when Peraza plays exceptionally mediocre. Peraza has a low career OBP where Holt exceeds in that department.
Would anyone be surprised if by June, the Brewers are floundering and it costs the Sox a mid level marginal talent to get him back? The point I’m trying to make is Brock turned himself from a mid level marginal talent to a pro’s pro that every team could use to fill out a bench. Teams get caught up in “named” talent and youngsters with potential. Yet I’d take a Brock Holt type anytime when I’m trying to win now.
Anyone doubt his true value, read this from a now ex-teammate.
nesn.com/2020/02/jackie-bradley-jr-bids-farewell-t…
Wouldn’t be surprised to see that scenario come up. But I’d see Holt going to an injury-riddled Yankees.
So well stated
Yup xactly PW
Yes he was clutch n prolly would’ve been a good reg player if not for injuries.
id like to see that…just like how i like a Jeter in Boston.
A real conversation I had with a Yankees fan right after the Red Sox easily cruised past the fearsome HR hitting Yankees in the 2018 playoffs:
Yankee fan – We need someone who can make things happen, manufacture runs without homeruns, like Brock Holt.
Me – You mean like real a baseball player?
Yankees fan – Yes!
The Brew Crew is a solid team. They won’t be floundering.
The reality is that Holt was exactly what you said…”a marginal mid level talent”. Every major leaguer is a Pro’s Pro when it comes to playing baseball which is what he is paid for…the other stuff like what a good guy he is, or his charity work defines who he is as a person, but not as a ballplayer.
His baseball IQ is that he can play multiple positions, none above average at best, is a singles hitter with little to no power, and doesn’t possess anything but average speed on the bases….his value to Boston fans seems to be totally emotional. His value to the new GM, was that he is replaceable with cheaper players, who possess the same skills, and are available throughout the league.
No article by an “ex-team mate is going to change that fact.
Enough with the Holt adoration already…
Being white helps too.
Brewers solid? They took major steps backwards they will finish next to last they are horrible.
Pasha2k – Holt was not mentioned in the post. Move on — get a life
Please stop the racial nonsense.
Rock, We just again agree to disagree. Holt’s ability to be plugged in anywhere and provide quality get on base at bats, pinch run and provide defense at so many positions can’t be understated in today’s game where the roster is clogged up with so many pitchers. Let’s see what having an extra roster space does to the value of the multi-dimensional bench player.
Real fans appreciate more than just the star players
Agreed. Basketball is star filled because so few are playing at any one time but even then MJ needed a Steve Kerr or a Mr. Bill (Cartwright/Wettington).
really now…
Castillo in many ways has himself to blame for having -0- chance at making a MLB appearance in 2020. This was an option year and he could have declined it, not that anyone would have given him a MLB deal and he’d have been 14m poorer, but still.. His complaining, or rather saying wanted a “crack” at MLB this season and his non chance at it falls entirely on him.
No one in his position would leave 14 million bucks on the table. No one.
Agreed, John, he’s been a great guy in Pawtucket but if he’d chosen free agency, he would have had to take a minor league deal at minimal money just for that MLB chance. If he produces and the Sox are under the cap, he’ll be up by the deadline in a trade with Boston paying most of the funds or soon thereafter in Boston.
I totally agree.
Pocket that extra $14mil (after taxes), pad that bank account & then take the best opportunity/contract that is offered to you.
castillo should give all but 5 million back as he never came close to any kind of talent paid for… he is a total disgrace to baseball… and the team should be ashamed to have given him this crazy contract … foolish !!
More accurately, Castillo has only the Red Sox to blame for him not making an MLB appearance in 2020. It’s luxury tax related. It does not ‘fall entirely on him’. It’s quite the opposite, He should have been called up in 2017, 2018, or 2019. Asking him to throw $14 million down the drain to make the bigs when his performance has earned it is not his fault.
btw, when was the last time anyone heard him say anything about this? And yet him just talking about wanting a shot is seen as ‘complaining’ by fans who’d rather defend owners than celebrate a hard-working player.
Also what is he supposed to say when asked about it…”i’m perfectly content banking 14m playing minor league ball this year and it doesn’t really change things for me if I make the makors”?
Wtf. A team signed him 7 years ago pegged as a star, gave him half a season, and then was too cheap to pay luxury tax payments on his money so stuffed him in AAA when he still had 60M+ left.
It’s pretty cr@ppy from Boston not him….
Commonsense. He was sent down and then the rules were changed, MLB should have grandfathered him and others in but since they didn’t, they needed the tax space for other players who helped more in the near term. If Boston put him on the MLB roster for one day, the entire remaining contract would have applied against the tax threshold regardless if they later sent him back down.
Wasn’t just the Red Sox. Castillo also cleared waivers, so no team wanted him and the luxury tax hit if they claimed him.
“Cheap’. The Red Sox spent the MOST the last two years and top three the last five years. You must be using new math where 2 + 2 = 5.
I agree 110% with you
I agree 110% with you
He’s a good guy, no doubt, but there are reasons he wasn’t signed for so long.
you should marry holt and enjoy him.. clearly you are in love with the boy… He simply priced himself over his talent level. .. only an idiot owner would over pay for a utility player.. not very good defense. .. but huge clutch hitter for 2018…
but do u really want to continue to over pay for slightly above average and not be able to pay higher quality players ?
Uh…they replaced Holt with a player who is less skilled and versatile..
For about the same money.
He didn’t price himself out of anything.. try and keep up.
Uh, where did you get your info…..less skilled and versatile….don’t think so…over-valuing Holt as usual in most of these emotional posts by Bostons adoring Holt fans.
Maybe you need to keep up instead!
Don’t forget with your less comments also less money.
Rock, why don’t you stop commenting negatively on Boston at least until MLB’s report on 2018 comes out. The Yankees inability to have a Canyon of Heroes parade in recent years is making your red face show even without a camera. Imagine a Yankee fan jealous of the Red Sox!
Look at what he signed for and what Boston replaced him with. The fact that Holt already produced in a major market should have easily offset the marginal difference unless the team thinks he’s going to fall off a cliff in 20.
Get over it already. I have been a Red Sox fan 51 years. Every player gets either traded, retires, leaves free agent, or hurt. Not a single player is still playing after 51 years…….
RedSox#00001. What’s your point? While everything you said is true, many fans believe in this case, team management should have brought him back instead of signing a player none of us care for or believe is as good. Simple as that. If this turns out to be another Tampa under the radar signing, so much the better. It just doesn’t sit right though and not many Sox fans want the team to become the New England Rays, a good team but one who’s blueprint has never won.
I feel the same way..
Not only is Holt a better and more versatile player than who they signed to replace him…now we find out he would have cost about the same thing…
Not to mention his character and charitable work in the Boston community.
Just disheartening.
When Holt hits right handed I will agree.
Left handed batters: Devers, Benintendi, Bradley, Verdugo, Moreland. The Red Sox do not need a sixth starter batting left handed, but none of you complainers stretch your brain to wonder why he was not resigned????
I like Brock, but get over it already. Boo woo woo
I agree with you. The Yankees have the opposite problem in spades. Completely stacked in RH hitters and I, for one (many Yankee fans don’t agree), think it’s a problem. Until Hicks returns to CF (mid season or later), 8 of the Yankees 9 starters is a RHer. That’s a problem. All the AL East needs to do is load up on RH arms… IF the Yankees do get to the WS against the Dodgers, however, they will be in a good position, since 4 of the Dodgers’ starters are LH (Beuhler being the one RH).
Getting right handed hitters is fine if you get the right ones. The team needed an outfielder and I agree but for the infield, I disagree. I love Moreland but given his inability to stay on the field, choosing one and to me it’s Holt.
TOTALLY AGREE! Why let Brockstar go to the Brewers? He wasn’t expensive. Always ready to play ANY of 9 positions and we loved the bloused stockings. This plus Mookie says Bloom’s a ways to go in Red Sox Nation’s hearts.
Hilarious that Pujols is owed $59 million over the next two years and then even more for a personal services deal after that.
Carlos Correa: Did someone say “personal services?”
We will be saying similar things about Manny Machado and Bryce Harper in eight years or so.
Or sooner. Perhaps much sooner.
Maddon: “Listen albert, you were a negative for us on the field last year. I am not here to take your money but we are gonna give people that offer value a chance.”
Albert: “But I am the machine.”
Maddon: “You WERE the machine, now your just outdated but thats okay we have a place on the bench for you.”
Add the Maytag repairman has given up on you.
Sad, he was quoted after signing, when asked about the length of the contract and value , he stated something to the point it is not about the money and if he ever gets to the point where he is not preforming to his level of expectations he will retire. I guess he has low expectations.
Getting close to 700 HR may have changed his mind a bit.
Pujols also said in an interview a few years later that if he wasn’t performing or his contract was preventing the signing of players, he would give some of the money back.
He’s a good guy but that ain’t happening.
I am not certain the exact quote you’re referring to, but MLBPA wouldn’t ever allow a player to “give back” salary. That goes as far back as Lyman Bostock.
He could renegotiate his deal, but that would just be moving money around.
As far as goals are concerned, 5 HR moves him past Mays to #5, 41 HR will move him past ARod for #4 (achievable over two seasons).
12 RBI moves him past ARod for #3 on list, 40 RBI moves him past Ruth for #2.
82 H moves him past Mays for #12, 118 H moves him past Molitor for #10.
24 XBH moves him past Ruth for #4, 45 XBH past Musial for #3, perhaps the most fulfilling record for him.
Viewed that way, it is easy to see what drives him to continue to play.
Yes ego and money.
He is already a HOFer. Nothing to prove.
Bostock offered to give money back and Autry said no after with he start hitting.
Add the Maytag repairman has given up on you.
Sad, he was quoted after signing, when asked about the length of the contract and value , he stated something to the point it is not about the money and if he ever gets to the point where he is not preforming to his level of expectations he will retire. I guess he has low expectations.
Pride and $59M would keep just about every player motivated to try.
If you have already made more than enough money for your lifetime, that $59 million might not be as big a motivating factor as you think.
One motivation is probably 700 home runs. He’s 44 away, or 22 each of his last 2 years. He might not get it but he’ll be close.
“If you have already made more than enough money for your lifetime, that $59 million might not be as big a motivating factor as you think.”
True ignorance right here. $59 million is still an insane amount of money. B-ref has him at $285 million in career earnings. Trust me, $59 million is still a huge motivating factor.
::Chris Davis has entered the chat::
A ball player, even a superstar, can only play for so many years. When the big paydays stop, a lot of them go broke within five or six years. If you retire at 40, you will probably live at least another 30 years.
I was reading about how Matt Kemp bought a $9 million mansion in San Diego when he was traded there. Kemp was sent packing again after a year and a half, but couldn’t sell his house. He finally got $4 million for it. A few more deals like that and he will be selling autographs for ten bucks a pop like Pete Rose and Dwight Gooden.
Exactly! Regardless of what you may have earned in your career up until that point, $59 million is an INSANE amount of money, and a huge motivating factor.
You can buy your own fully developed tropical island with villa, dock, yacht, etc. for a lot less than $59 MM.
$59 million is a lot of money to anyone except Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, or their ilk.
Albert hit .294/.362/.551/.913 with RISP and even better with 2 outs and RISP. When it counted Albert still excelled.
Not sure RBI count for anything, but he had 93 in just 131 games.
Albert led the team in percentage of baserunners that scored in his at bats at 19.6% which does count. In other words, Albert drove in the highest percentage of baserunners during his at bats of anyone on the Angels. Trout was next highest on the team at 16.7%.
He is not an every day player if the team gets someone who can both play excellent defense, hit for power, and come up big when it counts. Until then I think he gets as many starts at 1B and DH as his legs will allow.
Agreed Koamalu. With injuries, he’ll get his chance unless he and the team agree on a retirement deal.
Small sample sizes can make anybody look good. Pujols isn’t any good in the field and he’s a little below average at the plate while playing first base.
With RISP, he’s been pretty consistent with his normal overall stat line over the past several years, and “clutch” hasn’t really been a factor which has proven it can be sustained anyway.
Nothing wrong with a little favorite player bias, but Pujols is done. He’s a liability on the team.
When you have someone with an on base percentage like Trout batting ahead of you your stats will always be good, as long as you make contact. Keep things in perspective.
LAST SEASON, I led this team in ninth-inning doubles in the month of August!
Pujols does have some value that I think others are missing. He always has hit well with runners in scoring position. what people don’t see is that the speed that he runs and the way they now defend against a slow runner has more to do with his batting results than any drop in hitting ability. His worst year he ran the slowest. With men on base he was still solid. That is because some teams were placing all the infielders in the outfield grass. It is going to be hard for anyone to get a hit With men on base they had to keep the runners from advancing at will. Not every team had the same D . but teams like Oakland and others did.
I think he is a sure bet to keep having better #s wrsp, probably solid #s. If he can continue to run a little faster or rather not as slow he will he will improve more. He should be helped this year with more on base and runners that have pretty good speed. This also comes with the fact that he will probably hit into more DPs. Those RBIs are not JUST a product of a large amount of men on base.
Must be nice though to sit.on the bench for almost $30 million this year. I think I could force myself to do it.
Albert is a joke. Retire already you slug!
He’s a legend…problem is he’s probably actually 47 years old
Yep. He was at least 25yo when he hit the big leagues. He was already in the country in 2000 when other Latin payers were getting caught lying about their ages on visas and passports after 9/11. I was 33 at the time and Pujols looked older than me…
Mcdusty49 I’ve met him on several occasions and he’s at least 52
As far as I’m concerned, Albert Pujols can play for as long as he wants.
Albert Pujols is my hero! His charity work and impact to world of special needs adults is immeasurable! Shame on you for calling him a joke, the only joke here is you – internet loser! Pujols forever!
The Angels should be teaching Ohtani to play 1B or the OF so he can actually be a “two-way” player, instead of a pitcher that can hit.
Pujols should not be utilized in the field and if left to only DH may be able to put up semi decent numbers to finish his career.
In a perfect world, Pujols would retire and become a special advisor or some coaching role. Thaiss/La Stella and whoever else share first base. Ohtani becomes the full time DH. Trout/Upton/Rendon and whoever else rotates in the DH spot when Ohtani is pitching, if they need a rest. Oh and Arte makes the Stripling/Joc trade. But hey, one can dream…
In a perfect world, Arte would be a rational human being. The Pujols deal was the dumbest FA signing in the history of baseball, maybe dumber than trading Babe Ruth.
“dumber than trading Babe Ruth”
Wow… No..
Pujols signing is worse than Baltimore signing Chris Davis???
I dunno. Inking the Hoz was right up there.
You’re a slacker. Miggy has a combined -0.1 bWAR over the past three years, and still has $124M/4 left on his contract. He had a good 2016, with a 4.7 WAR, but he might have a -0- WAR for $210M in his final 7 years.
The Hamilton signing was worse. It was for less money and years, but the production and off field distraction for the Angels specifically was bad.
Miggy might actually rebound yet. Pujols is a known quantity. There’s no hope left Pujols might be able to provide positive value anymore.
Pujols was the best hitter in the game when he signed. Everyone expected the back half of the contract to be upside down. Pujols had a couple of 4 War and 3+ War seasons which is good for most players but we are talking about Albert Freaking Pujols who was accustomed to 7 and 8 war seasons in St Louis. Pujols has made his money but the Angels also made their money from Pujols. Between Trout, Ohtani, and Pujols, the Angels have had some of the more marketable players. They play in a city of 350k and draw 3M per year for a 4th place team, so needless to say the stars keep fans in the seats.
@moody That is a staggeringly ignorant statement.
Pujols has averaged 1.7 WAR over this seasons with the Angels. Chris Davis has “contributed” an average of -0.4 WAR in his 4 seasons of his deal. Their average salary per season was the same.
I thought Ohtani played the OF in Japan
He did. He won’t for us.
@moody, so you are saying getting an extra 75 million per season, for the TV deal, just for signing Pujols was a bad signing? Man I bet you failed Economics in school.
@angelsfan4life where is your proof that signing Pujols got them an extra $75m/yr from their TV deal?
The Angels expected to pay Albert through his age 42 season. Based on his own quotes in several interviews, they already have.
Cards new he was older then he was saying. They let him go because of knowledge of his true age
No they didn’t. They offered nearly the same deal as the Angels. The Angels offered like $6 million more than St Louis and Miami if I remember correctly. It’s strange to think Miami was involved then, but that was the off season they spent a lot on Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and others in order t sell their stadium deal to the city of Miami.
The Cards would only offered a 6 year deal. No one offered 10 or came close to the total years.
kid, cards offered him 10 year $220 mil in desperation.
Cards and Marlins did.
Yeah, I head the Cardinals final offer came fairly close, but Albert was upset with them at that point.
Comical to see people stomping players like Albert & Miggy. Either one of these aging stars could have a superstar year. Reminds me of the bashing that Castellanos was getting prior to signing. After his contract was announced, the naysayers seemed to crawl back into the woodwork. It’s a new season, let them play.
Nope
68tigers84, I’ll defer to you regarding Cabrera after not having seen him play much the last few years. I have seen Pujols play enough here in Southern California to conclude that he’s nearly done.
Albert’s age-37 season OPS three seasons ago was only 40 points higher than the .221/.306/.328 that Willie Horton could manage in his final major-league season with the Mariners (1980).
Yup Pujols is done. It hurts my knees watching him run, or even walk for that matter. That’s affected his defense, and I’m sure it’s affected his hitting, obviously the statistics show that it has.
he may not have great range but he covers first very well.
Horton had 29 Hr, 106 rbi, 5 triples the previous season(age 36). Mariners opted for Richie Ziske in1981, he put up great slash stats. But Horton could have matched his power numbers. Horton may have felt he was done. But I bet Willie was grateful the AL instituted the DH.
Yes, Willie has a very good age-36 season. The DH rule definitely benefitted both Horton and the 1979 Mariners.
Yeah, because despite hitting 23 home runs and driving 101 runs, both of which are very good for someone that’s 37 years old*, he could only muster a pathetic triple slash of .241/.286/.386.
*=He’s probably older than he says he is.
Yeah, because despite hitting 23 home runs and driving 101 runs, both of which are very good for someone that’s 37 years old*, he could only muster a pathetic triple slash of .241/.286/.386.
*=He’s probably older than he says he is.
The jury is in…. He never was the player the Angels hoped for….and the last few years have been tough to watch. He’s incredibly slow. His numbers as a DH are terrible. His total WAR over the last three years is -1.0.
If he is healthy, Albert will start about 90 games at 1B, another 30 or so at DH, and come off the bench against LHP just like last season. He is still a valuable hitter,especially against LHP..
If it means making it back to the playoffs, Albert will take on whatever role that he can best help the team win.
” though he may have to battle Tommy La Stella for reps”
I bet that line has never been said before.
Stella, Stella, Stella.
If you have to battle Tommy La Stella for playing time it just might be time to start hitting the ol’ dusty trail..
Pujols had an .830 OPS against lefties last year. 11 bombs in 181 plate appearances. Now, his numbers against lefty pitching was abysmal in 2017 and 2018, plus he’s an expensive platoon player if that’s how the Angels choose to use him. But I’ll take double digit bombs against left handers from Albert.
Koamalu stated Albert’s numbers with runners on is still quite good. He can still hit 20 bombs playing 130 games, clearly. And Albert is chasing the RBI record. Whether you agree with him continuing his career or not, he has something to play for and continues to stay motivated regardless of money, age or declining production. I think a team like Anaheim would welcome his veteran presence and his desire.
absolutely!
Desperate for a reason Pujols is still worth a spot on the 40 man, aren’t you? lol Cherries appear to be in season.
Pujols will likely only play first 2 games a week. La Stella or Thaiss will play the other games at first. Pujols will DH when Ohtani doesn’t. So that would give 5 games a week played. Which will help keep his legs, a little more stable. My prediction for Pujols this season .246 26 Hr 78 RBI’s
So essentially replacement level – again – for $30 million.
I have great admiration – even as an A’s fan – for Pujols, I’d ask died in the wool Angels fans though – has he provided value for his contract ON THE FIELD – regardless of the number of replica shirts purchased?
&A’sfaninLondonUK, everyone knew the last 4 years, were going to be bad. I actually wanted the Angels to sign Prince Fielder, back then instead of Pujols. People forget the Angels were in the top 10 team in pitching in 2011. But were one of the worst team in hitting with runners in scoring position in 2011. The Angels TV deal was up after the 2012 season, FS1 offered 175 million per season, on the tv deal. After signing Pujols, that got bumped up to 250 million per season. So from a business aspect, the Pujols signing made sense. Now no one knew that Rich Harden and Ervin Santana were going to fall off the cliff in 2012.
Hello angelsfan4life:
Thank you for your response. OK I see your point with regard to Pujols knocking in runners – and he has remained pretty good at doing that to this day. My argument is that whilst he’s been great for business – as you point out rightly – he’s not been that great baseball wise. He might have brought in an extra $75 million in TV revenue but where has that profitability translated into results?
BTW – I thought the 2014 Angels were going to cruise the WS (playing .750 ball from mid June to mid Sept) until the arms & Richard’s knee blew up. A great shame because that was a WS team in my humble opinion…
Pojols’ numbers as a DH have been terrible though.
Sox fans need a reality check on Brock Holt.
Yes. We’re not allowed to like a guy who plays for our favorite team. And we’re really not allowed to like a guy in any disproportionate way than his statistics justify. We’re not allowed to judge character of the players and like a guy because he has good character. We are not allowed to be sad if some player we like is no longer on the team. We must be robots. Who needs Brock Holt anyway. Thanks for the reminder.
… reality check. Holt plays average defence and is exposed at the plate when he plays regularly. It’s the Rich Garces, cult-hero scenario, I get that point and there’s nothing wrong with same. But, to bring a player back due to some outsized worship of an entirely average baseball player is absurd. Holt lasted quite a while on the free agent wire, seems most teams hold a far more realistic view of Holt than the average Sox fan. El Guapo 2.0 – you’re welcome, Hayzee.
You Holt fans are certainly allowed…we’re just tired of hearing it every day about a marginally skilled player who evokes an emotional response from adoring fans each and every time the opportunity arises to bring him up again……seems like a good guy, but as far as indispensable as a ballplayer….not seeing it nor is the rest of the league, or new Boston management obviously…..as said multiple times in multiple posts…..Get over it already!
Angels need to work out a deal with the Cardinals. Maybe bad contract in Fowler and Cecil.
Why Does baseball-reference.com Say Rusney is not a Free Agent till 2026? And he’s Pre-Arb the next two years?
Which is it?
I wonder if Rusney Castillo is the highest paid minor leaguer in the history of the game?!
I feel bad for all the other AAA players scraping by on the peanuts they make while this clown cashes checks amounting to 10mil a season!
As much as you can describe Rusney Castillo as a $70 million clown, what is he supposed to do? It must be pretty disappointing to have your career put on hold by the financial mismanagement of the Red Sox for about 6 years regardless of how much you’re paid. Pay me (AAV) $10 million a season to play in Pawtucket and I’ll do it. I guess you would too.
All you’re really stating here Moneyballer is that the average AAA player is underpaid (yes, I agree with you) and that the machinations of the soft salary cap are broken.
None of which is Rusney Castillo’s fault is it?
You think castillo is complaining about having his career on hold?!! Laughable. He’s not sad at all and if the guy could hit he’d have a career!
Blame MLB not Boston. Every team would have done the same thing as the Sox did. Anyone in the minors when the rules changed should have been grandfathered in. That rule cost him more than it did the Sox. If not for that rule, he likely would have been up for part of 2018 and who knows, he could have been a bench player. A ring could have been his if not for the rule change that suddenly forced the team’s hand.
Pujols’ faith and mentorship to Mike Trout has provided more value than his stats. Many insiders have pointed to Albert’s guidance and family-based approach as large contributors for Trout’s resigning with the Angels.
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I played golf a few years ago with an Angel Stadium groundskeeper and he told me, “make no mistake, that’s Albert’s clubhouse.”
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Although it is frustrating if a runner is on first, his at-bat is almost a guarantee double play…but his leadership and mentorship of players is where his value lies…now more than ever…
And you’re happy paying $30 million a year for that?
I think every baseball fan knew when his 10 year contract was signed, the last couple of years would be ugly (value wise). I think many were surprised how fast his regression happened (myself included).
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So the glass half full view is his contract is a sunk cost and his mentorship value is helping offset his negative WAR. At the time of the signing, he was still one of the biggest names in the sport and helped land the big Fox TV deal. But honestly, no that is still not a $30M overall 2020 value.
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Glass half empty view is his contract is a sunk cost and is an albatross around the Angel organization’s neck. Many would argue that his contract is one of worst in sports; given the length, his production over the length of the contract, and the cost limitations it put on the organization.
Question from a mets fan, is this rusney Castillo guy that bad? Hes fast can play cf has pop decent arm, ok so the obp is a bit low at .321 but not terrible. Why has boston blackballed him is it a $ issue?
He would be a starter if he sticks in cf on a number of clubs
Honestly, I’d tell Pujols he can retire or he’s being released. The Angels owe him absolutely nothing.
Must be nice though to sit.on the bench for almost $30 million this year. I think I could force myself to do it.
IMHO, it’s time to trade Albert. Of course, he’d have to agree and the Angels will have to eat almost all of his salary. But, if some non-contending team will take him for the marquee value, AP can keep on adding to his great career numbers and the Angels can put their best team on the field.