Castillo Claimed by Giants

Sashimi · March 22nd, 2008, 01:59 PM

The Giants, whose infield corps has gone from thin to thinner, added a new player to the mix when they claimed Jose Castillo off waivers from the Marlins.

Castillo will be available for today's exhibition against the Rangers, according to Bobby Evans, director of player personnel.

"We'll look at him at third base," Evans said. "The reports on him in spring training have been good. This increases the inventory of players who can play a variety of positions."

Shortstop Omar Vizquel will open the season on the disabled list, second baseman Ray Durham missed his third straight game with a tight left hamstring and Kevin Frandsen hasn't played since March 16 because of a strained Achilles tendon.

Saturday's infield had three untested players: shortstop Brian Bocock, second baseman Eugenio Velez and first baseman Daniel Ortmeier, along with 36-year-old Rich Aurilia at third. Still, it's no guarantee Castillo will make the 25-man roster. He still has options, meaning he could open the season at Triple-A Fresno.

"We're a little thin," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have two second basemen hurt right now, and (Castillo) is a guy we hope can cover us."

Castillo, 27, played the past four years with Pittsburgh, the first three as the starting second baseman. But he fell out of favor with manager Jim Tracy, got demoted to utility status last year and played a career-low 87 games, largely at third base.

He was released Dec. 10 and signed a $650,000 contract with the Marlins, hitting .275 in 51 at-bats this spring.

"He has all the ability to be great," said Rajai Davis, who was in the Pirates' organization before his July trade to the Giants. "It's really on him. He dictates his own success. It's about how hard he's willing to work. He has all the ability to have success at this level."

Castillo's downfall in Pittsburgh began when he sprained a knee in August 2005, and his inability to train hard that offseason didn't make for a good impression on Tracy, who took over the team in 2006. Castillo lost weight entering 2007, but Tracy went with Jose Bautista at third and moved Freddy Sanchez to second, leaving Castillo out of the mix.

After last season, Castillo played winter ball in Venezuela and hit .384 to win the batting title. He's a .256 career hitter (.297 on-base percentage) with 33 homers and 181 RBIs in 465 games.

"He can help a lot. He's a good player and good guy," said Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, the MVP in Venezuela.

Source

Just reported on the radio.

Not sure if the Marlins can still pull him back. Geffner made it sound like it was a done deal.

Jewb · March 22nd, 2008, 01:59 PM

Looks like McPherson will be in the mix at some point afterall.

Nny · March 22nd, 2008, 02:03 PM

The Marlins can pull it back, the question is will they.

Jewb · March 22nd, 2008, 02:10 PM

how long do they have

Nny · March 22nd, 2008, 02:35 PM

72 hours from when he was originally placed on waivers.

Jewb · March 22nd, 2008, 02:38 PM

Oh, it's not from when someone claims him?

Nny · March 22nd, 2008, 02:43 PM

afaik, no.

but keep in mind that The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book is kept underwraps and most things known is second-hand knowledge

Swift · March 22nd, 2008, 03:28 PM

I don't get it.

mbaamin08 · March 22nd, 2008, 03:32 PM

He is no longer on the roster on the Marlins site.

Sashimi · March 22nd, 2008, 03:33 PM

Looks like he is already listed on the Giants 40-man (per mlb.com)!

Sashimi · March 22nd, 2008, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by mbaamin08

He is no longer on the roster on the Marlins site.

Couldn't wait to get rid of him, it appears

As has been speculated, there has to be more to this story (as in clubhouse/personality stuff).

lou · March 22nd, 2008, 03:44 PM

Would it be a bad thing to suggest moving Hanley to 3B, and taking the D at SS with Amezaga?

Hugg · March 22nd, 2008, 04:00 PM

Wouldn't be bad thing to suggest, but not worth harping on since we know they're not going to do it.

The sooner we shift him over to third, the better.

!NICK! · March 22nd, 2008, 05:19 PM

I have to assume this has everything to do with money.

Ramp · March 22nd, 2008, 08:12 PM

bizarre

St. Jimmy · March 22nd, 2008, 10:40 PM

Castillo was going to be a platoon player here. He wasn't happy at all about being a nonregular in Pittsburgh. I'm guessing this, and what Frisaro reported a few days ago had something to do with him wanting to be an everyday player.

Eddie Altamonte · March 22nd, 2008, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by lou

Would it be a bad thing to suggest moving Hanley to 3B, and taking the D at SS with Amezaga?

Very bad thing!

March 22nd, 2008, 01:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sashimi Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,037 T&B $: 560 Reputation: 148990 My Teams:	Castillo Claimed by Giants The Giants, whose infield corps has gone from thin to thinner, added a new player to the mix when they claimed Jose Castillo off waivers from the Marlins. Castillo will be available for today's exhibition against the Rangers, according to Bobby Evans, director of player personnel. "We'll look at him at third base," Evans said. "The reports on him in spring training have been good. This increases the inventory of players who can play a variety of positions." Shortstop Omar Vizquel will open the season on the disabled list, second baseman Ray Durham missed his third straight game with a tight left hamstring and Kevin Frandsen hasn't played since March 16 because of a strained Achilles tendon. Saturday's infield had three untested players: shortstop Brian Bocock, second baseman Eugenio Velez and first baseman Daniel Ortmeier, along with 36-year-old Rich Aurilia at third. Still, it's no guarantee Castillo will make the 25-man roster. He still has options, meaning he could open the season at Triple-A Fresno. "We're a little thin," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have two second basemen hurt right now, and (Castillo) is a guy we hope can cover us." Castillo, 27, played the past four years with Pittsburgh, the first three as the starting second baseman. But he fell out of favor with manager Jim Tracy, got demoted to utility status last year and played a career-low 87 games, largely at third base. He was released Dec. 10 and signed a $650,000 contract with the Marlins, hitting .275 in 51 at-bats this spring. "He has all the ability to be great," said Rajai Davis, who was in the Pirates' organization before his July trade to the Giants. "It's really on him. He dictates his own success. It's about how hard he's willing to work. He has all the ability to have success at this level." Castillo's downfall in Pittsburgh began when he sprained a knee in August 2005, and his inability to train hard that offseason didn't make for a good impression on Tracy, who took over the team in 2006. Castillo lost weight entering 2007, but Tracy went with Jose Bautista at third and moved Freddy Sanchez to second, leaving Castillo out of the mix. After last season, Castillo played winter ball in Venezuela and hit .384 to win the batting title. He's a .256 career hitter (.297 on-base percentage) with 33 homers and 181 RBIs in 465 games. "He can help a lot. He's a good player and good guy," said Giants catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, the MVP in Venezuela. Source Just reported on the radio. Not sure if the Marlins can still pull him back. Geffner made it sound like it was a done deal. Last edited by Sashimi; March 22nd, 2008 at 03:51 PM..

March 22nd, 2008, 01:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jewb Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,435 T&B $: 583 Reputation: 643115 My Teams:	Looks like McPherson will be in the mix at some point afterall. __________________ Things to do before I die: 9) Write a novel about the ongoing carpenter ant/fire ant civil war 7) Become President of the United States and CNN anchor, simultaneously 6) Return the $428 in monopoly money that I stole from my childhood friend. 4) Swim in the arctic ocean with a permeable loincloth 3) Discover what really happened to The Giving Tree 2) Bust a load on Sienna Miller's bathroom window (from the outside) 1) Repossess all my missing socks from boarding school.

March 22nd, 2008, 02:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nny Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,839 T&B $: 1,478 Reputation: 1312156	The Marlins can pull it back, the question is will they. __________________ [img][/img] dear tao today i played violin in my bathtub for 4 hours. then i layed in my bed and pet my stomach. i pretended that there was a baby growing in it. i cried with my baby and then fell asleep. i dreamt that my best friend was a piece of asparagus. ellen

March 22nd, 2008, 03:44 PM	#12 (permalink)
lou Rookie Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 355 T&B $: 424 Reputation: 467458	Would it be a bad thing to suggest moving Hanley to 3B, and taking the D at SS with Amezaga? __________________ Words that correlate with winning baseball games - BATTING AVERAGE, CATALYST, COLETTI, CLUTCH, DAVID, ECKSTEIN, HUSTLE, INTANGIBLES, JOE MORGAN, LEADERSHIP, MANUFACTURING RUNS, MIKE JACOBS 2008 OBP, NEBRASKA PUNTERS FROM THE MID 1990S, PODSEDNIK, PRODUCTIVE OUTS, RBI, "STEALS AND SMILES," STOLEN BASES, VERSATILITY

March 22nd, 2008, 08:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ramp whysoserious? Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8,044 T&B $: 1,108,913 Reputation: 4350254 My Teams:	bizarre __________________ You and your kind, all you care about is money. This city deserves a better class of criminal. And I'm gonna give it to them!

March 22nd, 2008, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jewb Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,435 T&B $: 583 Reputation: 643115 My Teams:	how long do they have

March 22nd, 2008, 02:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nny Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,839 T&B $: 1,478 Reputation: 1312156	72 hours from when he was originally placed on waivers.

March 22nd, 2008, 02:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jewb Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,435 T&B $: 583 Reputation: 643115 My Teams:	Oh, it's not from when someone claims him?

March 22nd, 2008, 02:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nny Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,839 T&B $: 1,478 Reputation: 1312156	afaik, no. but keep in mind that The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book is kept underwraps and most things known is second-hand knowledge

March 22nd, 2008, 03:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Swift Starter Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,310 T&B $: 2,273 Reputation: 1040219 My Teams:	I don't get it.

March 22nd, 2008, 03:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
mbaamin08 Rookie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,850 T&B $: 22,545 Reputation: 855360 My Teams:	He is no longer on the roster on the Marlins site.

March 22nd, 2008, 03:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sashimi Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,037 T&B $: 560 Reputation: 148990 My Teams:	Looks like he is already listed on the Giants 40-man (per mlb.com)!

March 22nd, 2008, 05:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
!NICK! Veteran Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,197 T&B $: 23,103 Reputation: 1271349 My Teams:	I have to assume this has everything to do with money.

March 22nd, 2008, 10:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
St. Jimmy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: East 12th Street Posts: 3,578 T&B $: 522 Reputation: 2013137 My Teams:	Castillo was going to be a platoon player here. He wasn't happy at all about being a nonregular in Pittsburgh. I'm guessing this, and what Frisaro reported a few days ago had something to do with him wanting to be an everyday player. __________________ Please donate Florida Marlins - 1997, 2003 World Champions Miami Hurricanes - 1982, '85, '99, 2001 College World Series Champions Miami Marlins/Orioles - 1969, '70, '71, '72, '78 Florida State League Champions Miami Sun Sox - 1950, '52 Florida International League Champions Miami Sun Sox - 2007 Teal League Champions

March 22nd, 2008, 10:48 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ramp whysoserious?