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10/3/10

Q&A Weekend: - Castillo vs. Tejada

Dave Rim said: after reading  "Mets 2011 Salaries: - The Math Doesn’t Work Guys":


Hi Mack, love the site. I've done some math with this team, exactly as you constructed, except in my scenario, I offered arb to Pedro, and he accepted and received $4M, and I play K-rod and Castillo -- raising the total to 140M.  Also, if the Mets aren't allowed to drop K-Rod, why not try to repair that relationship and let the guy pitch? He might not be the guy he once was or even a decent human being, but he's still a very good reliever. Also, I really don't understand why Castillo wasn't playing every day when Ruben Tejada, (who is not great defensively at 2nd yet either) is struggling to get on base and probably should be at Buffalo learning how to do it? For much of the season the Mets were playing with two nearly automatic outs in their lineup. That's almost like playing with a pitcher and we're giving our opponent a DH. Anyways, as much as I dread 2011 (unless we somehow get Yu and Bobby V) I'm still excited by all the possibilities in 2012. Keep up the good work (and try to hype our prospects a little more I'm sure a lot of baseball's interns keep up to date for their bosses)!

First of all, Dave, thank you for your warm comments.

Once again, all we can do right now is predict what you or I would do if we were the GM, instead of try to figure out what the real person is going to do. Right now, there is no real person in charge.

Regarding Luis Castillo, anyone who comes in to this team must realize that 2011 is not going to be a year for this team to excel. There is only so much talent on this team, the cream of the minor league system is already in Queens, and the salary mess is, well... a mess.

On paper, you are right. Ruben Tejada should play 2011 in Buffalo at second base. There are two problems with this. One, the last thing any new GM needs is a press blitz about playing someone that they and the fan base has turned away from. Castillo's day as a Met are over and the best thing to do is to pay the guy off and thank him for putting up with all this shit. He did a wonderful job in 2009, when very few did.

The second problem is there is talent behind him waiting to play Buffalo. Josh Satin deserves that shot, with Reese Havens right behind him, when he is healthy.

Also... don't be surprised if any decision to pay of Castillo, Perez, or anyone else, isn't strung out until next spring. The Mets might as well hold on to them in hopes of finding anyone that would pay even the smallest part of their contract.

Regarding K-Rod, the truth be told is he's the best closer the Mets have, but I just can't see the Wilpons letting this guy put a Mets uniform on again. The good news is there is much value here and the Mets should be able to move him. Hey, how about K-Rod for Ambiorix Burgos straight up?

My hopes remain for a complete cleaning of the house my the end of the 2011 season. The moving of Reyes, Beltran, Perez, and Castillo would drop the current payroll from $139mil to $74mil. This would give the Mets at least $25mil to pay who you get fro Jose, plus other 2012 free agents.

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