The next big thing in Cuban defecting stars is named Rusney Castillo and he is coming to an outfield near you very soon. Castillo is drawing comparisons to the Yankees Brett Gardners at this stage in his career and obviously New York is interested. They are so interested in fact that they are one of three teams to hold a private workout with the young outfielder. This comes after Castillo held a showcase for all teams in Miami over the weekend. 28 of the 30 MLB teams were in attendance which speaks volumes in my opinion.
Castillo is 27 years old and only listed at 5'7" and worked out at shortstop and center field over the weekend but is listed as an outfielder. Castillo is right handed and has above average speed, an average arm (hence why he will not remain a shortstop or play right field), and more power than the aforementioned Gardner.
Castillo is reportedly likely to sign within the next two weeks so stay tuned. The Yankees need an outfielder and Castillo seems primed and ready to go now.
If he comes to NY, he will play RF unless his arm is too bad...in that case guess who moves to RF, yup...Brett get's the crap, again!
ReplyDeleteIf he is really very good, he may come here only if he can play CF! He would have to be a very, very good CF'er to move Brett to right and Ells to Left.
Bad move, trying to move one fielder let alone two of them...is he worth it?
Something else to think about...Melky is a FA next year, would they want to go after him instead?
I think NY is scouting him as more of a fourth outfielder than an every day guy. I could be wrong, it's happened once.
DeleteMakes sence to me! They said Brett's arm was not up to standards but it's ok, not great but ok! So maybe they are looking at Castillo arm as only a Right fielders arm should in a more perfect world?!?
DeleteBrett has enough of an arm for LF or CF much like Rusney does. I like the comparisons but we already have two of him with Ellsbury, not sure we have room for a 3rd.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't like the Jorge Soler signing where we could stash him in Triple-A for a while, he'd 27.
I think we pass on him unfortunately.
Big bat with very good speed, can always be used as a 4th out fielder/DH. And like another Yankee, his bat and speed may carry the day?!?
DeleteI agree with you but, If I were Cassman, I'd bring up a kid from the farm and call it over and done!
Almonte is a AAA player only. I am spoiled with all the GUNS we have had in right field over the oh, so many years!
Just like in the draft, you go for the best and sort things out later (in this case where they'll play). As many "big" prospects have shown us, you may not even need to worry about them in MLB because they don't even get there.
ReplyDeleteThis is different then the draft though. You don't have two to six years to figure it out, teach him a new position, etc. Castillo is ready now and will not sign if he won't play now. He's not 17, or even 23, he's 27.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, just came to me as I was sitting in my chair on top of the table and trying to tie a fly for fishing out the window............oh ya, sorry 'bout dat dar!
DeleteDidn't, Nick Swisher have a weak arm? He learned how to throw the ball much better by working with the coaches and copying the way (somewhat) the pitchers were doing long tossing? Memory again!
Swisher has an average arm, if he didn't he would have never played right field. He doesn't have a cannon but his arm, in my opinion, is better than Gardner's. Wanna talk about a weak throwing arm, see Johnny Damon.
DeleteWhat he was before us I don't know, I didn't pay as close attention as I do now.
I just looked it up Daniel. You are right and wrong, from what I have read. He had a very avg arm, but they thought it was good enough in right. His arm got better when he changed his mechanics after watching the long tossing of the pitchers. I was wrong, as the coaches had nothing to do with it.
DeleteWhen he came to the Yankees he was the 4th out fielder but the other guy (name?) got hurt, so he was put in and played as we all remember.
But each case is different, as we don't know what they are calling a below avg arm...?!