Starlin Castro coming to Wrigley Fd in 2010?
The latest rising star in the Cubs minor league system is 19 year old Starlin Castro. The shortstop from the Dominican Republic is turning heads in the Arizona Fall League. Castro is turning heads to the point where in the last two days there have been a few suggestions that Castro might be ready for the big leagues as a 20 year old next season. Yesterday Carrie Muskat working for the teams website penned this:
MESA, Ariz. — Starlin Castro is ready for the big leagues.
Never mind that he’s only 19 years old. The shortstop has been on the fast track in the Cubs’ Minor League organization since he first signed in October 2006. He played rookie ball in 2008, then jumped to high Class A this season, then Double-A, and now is competing in the Arizona Fall League. He’s the youngest player in the AFL, but after one week of play, he’s keeping pace with the big boys, and through Sunday, was hitting .500 (7-for-14). He went 3-for-5 in the AFL opener.
“He’s one of those special players in baseball,” said Franklin Font, the Cubs’ Minor League infield coordinator.
Castro batted .311 in the Rookie League in 2008, and Font was among those who fought for the young infielder to begin the ‘09 season at high Class A Daytona, not the low Class A in Boise or Peoria. The Cubs would’ve been happy if Castro hit .250, .260. He batted .302, good for third in the Florida State League, even though he didn’t finish the season there.
Today in the Tribune it was again suggested that Castro is ready:
Castro continued to show that, at just 19, he’s nearly ready to compete for a job on the North Side. A shortstop by trade, he slid over to second Monday and handled six chances flawlessly.
The drumbeat for the 19 year old is getting louder and louder. Will the Cubs give Castro a chance to win the shortstop job this spring? Is the youngster ready to play at the major league level? Is he the latest in the long line of Cubs prospects that will flame out when they reach the big leagues. I’d love to be smart enough to answer those questions. If I was, I wouldn’t be writing here. I will say this, expect to see alot of Castro next spring in Mesa. He’ll see time at both short and second. Lou Piniella will give this youngster a long look.
It’s fun to see that the Cubs have a minor league prospect that appears to be on the fast track. Tim Wilken last year compared Castro to Tony Fernandez. Fernandez was a Gold Glove winner 4 times and a 5 time All Star. The Cubs would take that any day of the week.
wpbc
jackfsu
jeremyt32
Dear Jim Hendry,
Start shopping Ryan Theriot now. Right now. Before you finish this sentence. Why are you still reading this? Go pick up a phone and start gauging Theriot’s value.
XOXO,
Aisle 424
Aisle 424
October 20, 2009 at 12:58 pm
i have a sneaking suspician that castro wins the job in st. no reason to think it 424, just a random cub thought.
wpbc
October 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm
i actually think theriot winds up playing 2b.
wpbc
October 20, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Yeah, I do too, which is what bugs me. Baker is a decent bat and a decent enough glove at 2nd and Theriot’s value is not going to get any higher. Someone will think he is a long-term solution at 2nd and maybe part with something valuable (perhaps a decent middle relief guy and a nice prospect).
This system isn’t going to rebuild itself. You have to take the overvalued average players and get something for them before they become worthless and they leave via free agency. I still think Moving DeRosa when they did was the right move strategically, they just didn’t replace him well. Baker can replace Theriot and might even be an upgrade.
Andy White can be the defensive replacement/ backup shortstop if Castro doesn’t work out. The Cubs offense won’t fall apart for a lack of Theriot’s bat, and the defense will certainly be better up the middle.
All of that said, they’ll never trade the fan favorite over-rated white guy two years in a row. Hendry doesn’t have the balls for that.
Aisle 424
October 20, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I’ve never been a fan of Theriot, but one thing we have to keep in mind that he’s the type of player that is undervalued. He’s not going to bring much in a trade because he’s older and he’s entering his arbitration years. Basically, the teams interested in Placido Polanco, Felipe Lopez and Christian Guzman might have a little interest in trading for Theriot. Considering the others are free agents and none will make much money, Theriot just won’t bring a lot in return.
MB21
October 20, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Are the Cubs really prepared to hand the keys to the car over to Castro? I just don’t think he starts 2010 in the majors. I don’t relish the idea of him getting off to a slow start and being summarily relegated to the bench. Lou did it to Felix Pie, and he’d do it to Castro too. Give him some more time.
Eddie
October 20, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Theriot would have brought a lot in return in the winter of 2007. No longer. Another Hendry protege held too long.
Chuck
October 20, 2009 at 10:12 pm
The thing about Theriot is he will never cost the Cubs alot and he’s a decent player. Even though he’s arb eligible, it’s tough to imagine him making a ton of dough. Keeping him for a few more seasons doesn’t really bother me.
wpbc
October 21, 2009 at 10:18 am
Well, he’s worth more than Aaron Miles. That’s $2.5 million.
I guess that means Hendry will sign Theriot to a 5 year, $40 million deal.
Chuck
October 23, 2009 at 11:24 pm
lol, i see your point chuck. the hendry logic is not real good.
wpbc
October 24, 2009 at 7:15 am