Luis Castillo...

[Alex]

Someone mentioned on this forum back in December that Luis Castillo of the Florida Marlins was available.

No one (including myself) seemed interested. I was a little put off that back in the year 2000, Luis Castillo was threatening the record for fewest RBI's in a season with 500 at bats or more. It was an odd season for Luis.
He was hitting over .300, yet as late as August, he only had something like 12 RBI's. He was the regular Marlins 2nd baseman, so his low RBI's were truly an amazing stat.

It turns out that Luis Castillo could have been the key to us winning the Central Division this season.

He's stolen 20 bases already, is hitting .330.

All the things that Ricky G is not.

If Shapiro could swing a deal for this guy, and simply make Ricky G a reserve, he'd make up the overbloated contract Ricky G signed by increasing fan attendance because we would make a serious run at first place this year.

Our team would be exciting to watch with Omar and Luis at the top of the line-up. And our power guys would do better as a result.

What would it take to get this guy from the Marlins?

Remember how hot and bothered many fans got when we had a chance to get Cliff Floyd from these very same Marlins?

Would it take more or less to get Luis Castillo then it would have taken to get Cliff Floyd a month ago?

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 29, 2002 12:38 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 30, 2002 04:08 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>

[Alex]

If this is a buyers market rather than a sellers market, then I strongly suggest Mr. Shapiro put his buy cap on and take a real chance, and go for it this year.

[Alex]

New Scenario....Should we try and go after Castillo after the season is over?

What will it take to sign him?

I'm thinking 6-8 million per year for 4-6 years. Is he worth the risk?

[Alex]

Ok, I'm the only posting to this thread, but here goes.

Does anyone see the irony of this years team? After losing Marty Cordova, Kenny Lofton, Roberto Alomar, and Juan Gonzalez in the off-season, and a year earlier Manny Ramirez, we could still be a force to contend with in the playoffs by the acquistion of ONE non-power hitting guy named Luis Castillo.

In the past we have talked about pulling the trigger to get a Curt Schilling, or Randy Johnson, or some other big name pitcher, and suddenly, all we need is one more speedy guy at the top of the line-up and we could be as viable a threat as we were in 97!

Yet I feel I am only one who feels this way because the guy we need is neither a dominant power pitcher or a power-hitter, and to many others, the idea that we could be one table-setter away from playing for the world series is to impossible to fathom.