Why didn't the Cubs sign Luis Castillo??

[CubfaninCA]

I guess this topic should go into the Baseball Discussion forum...

 

Sure Walker's done a nice job, but Castillo's exactly what the Cubs need. .393 obp this year and .373 in 2004. A Gold Glove @ 2b, and he has some speed on the bases. He's not nearly as effective on the bases as before though.

 

In hindsight, what should have been done is ~~~ trade Wood & Patterson and get a stud hitter in return, sign Castillo, and keep Lofton & Clement.

 

Woulda, coulda, shoulda....

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Was there ever a real chance to get Castillo? Edited September 10, 2005 by Transmogrified Tiger

[CubfaninCA]

I don't recall Castillo ever being a Free Agent.

 

Wasn't he a FA after 2003?? Don't think they gave him an extension. Weren't the Mets really after him??

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't recall Castillo ever being a Free Agent.

 

Wasn't he a FA after 2003?? Don't think they gave him an extension. Weren't the Mets really after him??

 

Yeah, I forgot. According to the ESPN article, the Mets were hard after him, and we were after him too. It says he took less money to stay in Florida.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

While he may have been a free agent, he never really tested the market at all. He wanted to stay in Florida and resigned there before he talked to other teams.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't recall Castillo ever being a Free Agent.

 

Wasn't he a FA after 2003?? Don't think they gave him an extension. Weren't the Mets really after him??

 

Yeah, I forgot. According to the ESPN article, the Mets were hard after him, and we were after him too. It says he took less money to stay in Florida.

 

Yeah, that's right. It seemed like he didn't want to leave the Marlins, Hendry sure was interested and made a good offer, if I remember correctly.

[BigbadB]

I believe there were concerns about one of his knees at the time he was a free agent. He was just coming off a season in which his stolen base percentage dipped hard. If there was concern about his knee and his speed, I suppose there also could have been some concern about a drop off in OBP as well.

[SAMMYWHO]

Or perhaps OBP wasn't that important.

[biittner77]

I seem to remember a lot of people here thinking that Castillo wouldn't age well. He doesn't hit for much power and if he can't run as well- a real concern at the time- he could become a big liability. In other words he wasn't worth the risk of the long term contract that it would take to get him to sign with the Cubs.

[imb]

I believe there were concerns about one of his knees at the time he was a free agent. He was just coming off a season in which his stolen base percentage dipped hard. If there was concern about his knee and his speed, I suppose there also could have been some concern about a drop off in OBP as well.

 

Hips.

[YearofDaCubs]

To sum up what others have said...There were rumors back then that we were very interested in Castillo and I really do believe that we were trying to get him at the time. Castillo took a paycut and decided to stay with the Marlins.