As Mbaamin posted in yesterday's Chum Bucket comments, the Marlins have signed Jose Castillo.
The 26-year-old, formerly with the Pirates, is coming off a season where he batted .244 with 18 doubles and 24 RBIs. In 2006, Castillo appeared in a career-best 148 games, hitting .253 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs.
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The Marlins are exploring several infield options to fill the void at third base created in early December, when slugger Miguel Cabrera was traded to the Tigers during the Winter Meetings.
Castillo has primarily played second base in Pittsburgh, although he appeared in 34 games at third base in 2007.
The signing of Castillo places Florida's 40-man roster at 39.
The addition of Castillo also gives the team the flexibility to move second baseman Dan Uggla to third base. In his two big league seasons, Uggla has never seen action at third, but he played some games there in the Minor Leagues.
The only MLB team Castillo has played for, so far in his career, is the Pirates. So I went to see what my SB Nation colleague Charlie, at the Bucs Dugout, had to say about Castillo and this is what I found:
Castillo, the team's everyday second baseman for three years before becoming a spare part this season, has informed management through agent Scott Pucino that, if he is not going to see regular duty, he would prefer to be sent elsewhere, two sources intimately familiar with the matter confirmed.
Well, that's certainly interesting. I can't think of many teams that would have much use for a second baseman who was quite possibly the worst starting position player in baseball last year (Ok, Clint Barmes and Angel Berroa may have been worse), who has done absolutely nothing with the bat since last May, and who's hitting .188/.212/.219 this year. It's possible that Castillo's main concern is just getting out of Pittsburgh, rather than playing time, but if he's honestly worried about playing time, he's not going to get much of it with any other major league team, either.
Some OPSes:
Duffy .670
Paulino .644
Wilson .641
Castillo .599
That's so bad that the Pirates seriously need to ask themselves if they can find free talent that might be better.
Well, I'm thrilled.
I have heard in the past that Castillo has an attitude problem. However, when a player has "an attitude problem" with one club that doesn't necessarily mean he will with another.
Assuming that his name is not written in ink on the starting lineup card already, then fine. Trot him out there during Spring Training and let's see what he can do. If he earns a spot, okay. Great. Just as long as they don't give him one unjustifiably.
Oh yeah, Welcome Aboard Jose.