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11/24/18

Reese Kaplan -- Tired of Turkeys Behind the Plate?



Although turkey is traditional for Thanksgiving and ham is traditional for Christmas, maybe this time of the year in between the Mets ought to be thinking Wellington, as in Castillo.  The catcher nicknamed “Beef” actually spells his name with one “L” but that L might stand for “launch” as he’s hit a fair number of home runs over his career.  He came up with a reputation for being somewhat suspect behind the dish but last season nailed 49% of the runners attempting to steal against him.

Currently under contract to the White Sox at a salary of $7.25 million, Castillo might be an interesting stop-gap measure that fits into the modest investment scenario for a catcher already over 30.  Last season in under 200 ABs he hit 17 HRs and drove in 44 while hitting .259.  In 2019 Castillo will turn 32 during this upcoming season.  His contract expires after this season during which he’ll also earn $7.25 million.  He has an option for 2020 at $8 million or a $500K buyout.  For his career he’s averaged 21 HRs, 76 RBIs and .259 in a season.  If Patrick Mazeika continues to develop, then Castillo’s departure would coincide with the timetable for Mazeika’s arrival. 

This type of catcher, though not necessarily as attractive as some of the other options out there, has merit on a number of fronts.  First, it’s just a one-year commitment.  If age starts to catch up to him or he falters under the bright lights of the NL East, you’re off the hook for $500K.  Second, if he does flourish, you can lock him up with the 2020 option.  Third, take a look again at the 49% number for baserunners.  Wow…the pitchers would erect statues to the new man with the golden arm behind the dish. 

Given that he’s just got one firm year of commitment left and while not overly expensive, it’s not chump change either…the White Sox probably wouldn’t be looking for much in return.  We’re probably thinking a trio of Grade B prospects would be enough to get it done. 

Of course, there are a great many people who might think the better push in trade would be to suggest a Windy City reunion with Todd Frazier.  In his only full season with the White Sox the Toddfather slammed 40 HRs and drove in 98.  He’s due to make $9 million next season so the Mets would likely have to sweeten the deal by throwing in someone else with potential to offset the nearly $2 million delta in salary.  Say, for example, you offered the White Sox Gerson Bautista and his 100 mph wild arm along with Frazier…would that be a fair deal to both sides for Castillo?  Maybe you need to toss them a catcher as well.  

I know, I know…so if you trade Frazier what do you do about third base?  Well, internally you could shift Jeff McNeil to 3rd and open up 2nd for one of Luis Guillorme, Gavin Cecchini, TJ Rivera or Wilmer Flores.  Or you could go sign a one-year deal for Josh Donaldson to let him reestablish his value while allowing Andres Gimenez time to develop.  Or sign contact hitter D.J. LaMahieu who owns a career .298 batting average to play 2B. 

My thinking is he wouldn’t bust the bank and with the older Kurt Suzuki no longer an option you wouldn’t have to gamble nearly as much money as it would take to land Yasmani Grandal or Wilson Ramos.

11 comments:

  1. Why did he only have 200 at bats?

    And... who is hitting 3rd and 4th in the lineup for 2019?

    If the Mets fill their open positions with filler-type players does that leave the heart if the lineup for Frazier and Bruce?

    Certainly not a playoff contending recipe.

    The Mets need 1 or 2 All-Star caliber players to fill the heart if the lineup if they mean to be "aggressive" and to have a winning 2019 season

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  2. Reese -

    Morning.

    Your headline excited me... the content didn't.

    IMO, we should try our hardest to sign, first, Grandal, then, Ramos... and then consider other options, one being live with what we have internally for another year

    Light a candle for Mazeila's development.

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  3. I agree with Mack, but my order is reversed.........Ramos and/or Grandal only cost money (which has been oddly spent over the past few off seasons), so that's the route I would take.

    Keep our kids unless it is in a deal that you simply cannot ignore.

    I do like your outside the box thinking, however.

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  4. We have to begin some day holding on to our chips and developing a natural order of aging vets being replaced with team controls kids from the pipeline.

    The next group should include SP Justin Dunn, P Franklyn Kilome, SS Andres Gimenez, RP Stephen Villines, C Patrick Mazeika, and 3B Will Toffey.

    We have to hold on to these guys to see what we have.

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  5. Mack,

    Grandal has a draft pick attached to him. The Mets are better off just signing Ramos to a 2 year 18/20M.

    Donalson at 3B sounds like a great idea on a one year + team option. That would make the middle of the lineup great once and if Cespedes comes back this year. Conforto, Cespedes, Bruce, Donalson is not bad.

    Like I said before, sign Ramos, bring back Familia, go further and sign either Miller or Britton and that's probably enough if one of the many BP arms Sandy traded for develops and becomes a reliable arm as well.

    That's all that separates the Mets from being in the hunt for at least the NL east. When you consider the Mets BP blew like 18 games, adding just half of those games puts the Mets at 87 wins.

    Now factor in Donalson and Ramos, a full year of McNeil batting 2nd, the return of Lagares defense at CF and the eventual return of Cespedes and the Mets can potentially be in the 90+ wins.

    However, if the new GM is as dumb as the last one and decides to trade Syndergaard for prospects, then it will set the team back for years.

    Think about it. You trade Syndergaard and you have deGrom, Wheeler, Matz, Vargas, ?. Now consider that unless they give Wheeler a good contract extension, there is no reason for him not to test free agency.

    How good are the Mets a retaining their free agents? If Wheeler has another great year, he is gone because the Mets will be outbit by another team.

    Now that leaves deGrom, Matz (who can't stay healthy), ?, ?, ?.

    How is that for breaking down the one strength of the team for a few prospects instead of adding money to the payroll?.

    These imbeciles make mountains out of a grain of sand. It is not that complicated. Extend deGrom, Wheeler. Sign Ramos, Familia, Britton or Miller, Ottavino would be nice if they really want to go for it. Done.

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  6. Honestly, there are just a dearth of catchers in baseball that both hit and provide good defense. I would, considering the strength of the team is pitching sign up for a better defensive catcher then offensive catcher. Build up the middle. I am into a salary dump trade for Yan gomez or a 2/12 Maldenado. Put lagares in Cf and help the pitchers stop the stolen base. Run reduction instead of run production, bc really unless you call Kansas city and get S Parez you gonna have a hard time doing both.

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  7. I am tired of the turkeys at several positions on this team.

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  8. Oh yeah, if giving up a draft pick for any free agent, I would feel much better getting a Machado or Harper than some player with 1/2 their impact

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  9. Machado was traded so no draft pick is attached to him. Harper? yes

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    Replies
    1. Even more reason toward the nonsense behind Mets lack of interest in Machado

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