Luis Castillo

Yankees could make blockbuster trade to solve starting pitching woes

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New York Yankees, Luis Castillo

The New York Yankees need to find a number two pitcher whether they like it or not, and general manager Brian Cashman will have to find ways to open up money to spend. Considering the Yankees have the highest payroll in Major League Baseball routinely, the fact they can’t even make the World Series, let alone get past the second round of the postseason, is quite disappointing.

Pitching seems to be their issue every season since they have plenty of offensive weapons to produce runs. Ranging from Giancarlo Stanton to Aaron Judge, injuries have taken a toll on the offense’s capabilities, but if these players can play a full season or at least the majority, the Yankees will be just fine.

Again, pitching is the major factor here, and the Yankees don’t have much depth in the starting rotation behind Gerrit Cole. Teams around the league are beginning to trade prospects in a win-now mode, and the Yankees can’t wait until Aaron Judge’s contract expectations arrive to sell the farm.

One blockbuster trade the New York Yankees could make:

One stellar option Cashman should target is Cincinnati Reds’ star, Luis Castillo. He is set to be a free agent in 2020 for his arbitration-eligible in 2022, so the team will have plenty of control over him if they want to utilize prospects to acquire his services.

Last season, Castillo earned 70 innings of work, logging a 3.21 ERA with 11.44 strikeouts per nine. He accumulated a 58.4 ground ball percentage, which would be extremely beneficial for Yankee Stadium and the high HR rates. To accompany those statistics, he only allowed five homers and walked 24 batters.

At just 28 years old, Castillo is in the middle of his prime, and his pitch diversity is attractive. He utilizes his fastball 27%, changeup to 30%, sinker 25%, and slider 18%. A very diverse array of options he can use to dominate batters.

Adding Castillo to a rotation that has Cole, Jordan Montgomery, and are expected to get back Luis Severino and Domingo German will give the Yankees a formidable group. Ultimately, the Yankees have sold on prospects before, and they have plenty they could utilize in a trade right now for an elite arm set to earn $4.4 million in 2021. Talk about a cost-efficient move.

Yankees could land their No. 2 pitcher in blockbuster trade with Reds

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New York Yankees, Luis Castillo

The New York Yankees have accepted the fact that they might lose out on some quality players this free agency period. As the Yankees continue to negotiate with DJ LeMahieu and his representatives on a contract extension, all other priorities have been put on hold. Depending on how much money they have to work with, the Yankees could target a big name if LeMahieu ends up walking in FA.

However, starting pitching remains a major need for the Yankees, and there have been reports of their interest in players with previous injuries. A great way to save money is to allocate money toward one-year deals with quality pitchers who have dealt with injuries the past few seasons.

One good option would be Corey Kluber, who only pitched in 36.2 innings the past two seasons. In 2018, he finished with a 2.89 ERA and was considered one of the best starters in baseball. Taking a flier on him now on a cost-efficient deal would be a great move for the Yankees, but it might not solve their No. 2 starter problem.

The New York Yankees could make one blockbuster trade with a Cincinnati Reds:

If general manager Brian Cashman wants to get aggressive, he could consider trading prospects for Reds’ star Luis Castillo. Cincinnati has committed to the rebuild and are looking to offload as many quality players as possible. Castillo fits the bill well, as he is arbitration-eligible in 2022 and controlled by the team until 2024. This would give the Yankees several years of quality baseball for a pitcher who’s dominated for the most part over his four years in the MLB.

In 2020, Castillo pitched in 70 innings, earning a 3.21 ERA with 11.44 strikeouts per nine average. He recorded a 58.4 ground ball percentage, which would fit perfectly in Yankee Stadium. He only allowed five homers and walked 24 batters, indicating that he is just entering his prime. At 28 years old, he utilizes four pitches evenly. Castillo uses his changeup to 30%, fastball 27%, sinker 25%, and slider 18% of the time.

Nonetheless, it would take a ton of quality prospects to draw interest from the Reds in a potential trade. They would have to consider giving up Deivi Garcia, who made his MLB debut last season, RHP Luis Gil, and SS Anthony Volpe.

It would be a hefty price to pay for Castillo, but if the Yankees really consider the next few seasons as their window to win a championship, they must do everything possible to increase the probability of reaching the World Series. Eventually, they are going to have to pay Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres, let alone figure out the catcher position with Gary Sanchez.

As long-term deals go on and players get up there in age, making win-now moves should be a priority. Castillo offers team control for the next three seasons and will fit in perfectly behind Gerrit Cole in the rotation.

New York Yankees News/Rumors: A Gardy party reunion, a trade with the Reds, and more

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gardner

Tried and true New York Yankees fans would be delighted if the Yankees allowed veteran Brett Gardner to return to the Bronx for one more year. Suppose that’s the case recent news sounds more encouraging than previously thought. When the Yankees refused his $10 million option for the 2021 season, it seemed that his return to Yankee Stadium was all but doomed. But recently, general manager Brian Cashman has been singing the praises of the 13 year homegrown Yankee.

“I love Brett Gardner,” general manager Brian Cashman said on ESPN radio.” He’s been everything you could want since he was drafted and he is as tough as they come. He is great in the clubhouse. I’d like to partner back, it just remains to be seen how it plays out. He can certainly still play. Without a doubt and he impacts in a positive way. It just has to play itself out, I’d love to have Brett Gardner back.”

Although it’s still unclear if he indeed will be back with the team in 2021, there are plenty of reasons to bring the veteran back. He is the heart and soul of a mostly young team. He teaches how to be a Yankee and is a great mentor. The other main reason is that the Yankees injury-prone outfielders, namely the two Aarons, Hicks, and Judge. It may seem that the Yankees are stacked with outfielders, but you have to remember the past; both Judge and Hicks have been off the field at the same time, and Giancarlo Stanton no longer plays on the field. Gardy can play Gold Glove-caliber left and centerfield and adds a lefty bat to the lineup. For more on this story click the audio below.

Will the Yankees entertain a trade with the Cincinnati Reds?

The Cincinnati Reds, like many MLB teams, are dumping payroll as an unclear 2021 season looms ahead. They have made it known that pitcher Sonny Gray is on the trade block. That is mostly a non-starter for the New York Yankees. But recent news that Luis Costillo is also in the conversation may be more than the Yankees can resist in at least kicking the tires on that trade concept.

The Yankees with a limited budget aren’t going to be spending big money on a high profile number two starter as the attempt to re-sign DJ LeMahieu. That deal that they have marked as a priority is likely to cost them more than they want. But an economical addition to strengthening the starting rotation is surely something the Yankees should take a hard cold look at.

Castillo has parlayed his devastating changeup into two consecutive masterful seasons, striking out 226 men in 190.2 innings pitched in 2019 before following that effort up in ’20 with 89 in 70 innings. Still just 28 years old, Castillo is eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason and will be under team control through 2023. He is a steal at just over $4 million, and with the one trade, the Yankees could have a number two-like starter for the next three years. It all depends on what the Yankees would have to give up to make the trade happen.

Is Max Scherzer in the Yankee’s future?

New York Yankee fans know that there is no way that Max Scherzer will be a Yankee in 2021. The Yankees have no way to absorb his 30 million dollar salary. That would be nothing more than a pipe dream. But, wait, what about 2022? Scherzer is a premium pitcher that would be an excellent one-two punch at the top of the Yankees rotation with mostly young pitchers.

At the end of 2021, Scherzer will be a free agent again. The 13-year veteran pitcher has been with the Diamondbacks, the Tigers, and for the last six years, he has been a Washington National. He is a three-time Cy Young award winner, a seven-time All-Star, and an MVP nominee five times. Scherzer doesn’t appear ready for retirement for many years. If the Yankees want to pounce on the pitching star in 2022, at 37 years old next year, he might command a salary acceptable to the Yankees. Dialog on this possible acquisition should be watched during the coming season.

Will the New York Yankees pursue a Luis Castillo trade?

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New York Yankees, Luis Castillo

There is no secret that the New York Yankees have struggled with starting pitching over the last few years. They have made moves over the past few years to attempt to address it, but nothing ever led to a World Series.

The Yankees signed the best pitcher in baseball last year in Gerrit Cole. However, the rotation behind Cole completely fell apart. James Paxton was acquired the year before but couldn’t stay healthy in 2020 to help the Yankees.

Luis Severino was out for the year due to Tommy John and Domingo German was suspended. Masahiro Tanaka and JA Happ were inconsistent as well as the young pitchers like Jordan Montgomery and Deivi Garcia.

Simply put, the Yankees had no consistency behind Gerrit Cole. If they want to win a World Series, they need to have a bonafide number two starter that sits behind their ace. Right now, they don’t have that.

When at his best, Luis Severino could be that guy. However, the Yankees don’t know what to expect from Severino as he attempts to come back in 2021. The Yankees are currently examining the market looking for pitching reinforcements.

It’s widely known that the bombers are not going to spend to sign a guy like Trevor Bauer. Bauer played for the Reds last year and won the Cy Young. However, there is a pitcher who pitched for the Reds that the Yankees should pursue.

The Yankees and the Reds to make another deal?

No, the Yankees shouldn’t go after Sonny Gray who’s reportedly available. That’s a been there, done that type of situation. Instead, the Yankees should definitely pursue the young All-Star, Luis Castillo.

Supposedly, the Reds are listening to offers for the young pitcher. Dan Federico was first to report this and it was later confirmed by Jon Heyman. The Yankees should be all over this potential trade.

Luis Castillo would be the perfect option to backup Gerrit Cole in the Yankees rotation. Castillo was 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA last year on the heels of an All-Star season that saw him go 15-8 with a 3.40 ERA.

Acquiring someone like Castillo would cost the Yankees a lot. In terms of prospects, this would be a much steeper price than getting a guy like Francisco Lindor considering Lindor’s pending free agency.

Castillo wouldn’t hit the free agent market until after the 2023 season. If the Yankees could pull off a deal for Castillo, that would instantly make them much better. Imagine a rotation with Cole, Castillo, and a healthy Severino.

There is no word on if the Yankees are pursuing Castillo. However, I would expect them to take a hard look if the Reds are serious about dealing him. This is a situation to watch.

Ranking the New York Mets Second Basemen of the Last 20 Seasons

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The New York Mets had a steady rotation of second basemen over the last 20 seasons. One common theme is their second basemen tend to carry the team during the postseason. Our first two names on the list exemplify postseason excellence the best.

1. Daniel Murphy (2008-15)

Daniel Murphy put together one of the greatest postseasons in baseball history. In 2015, he hit .421 with seven home runs, including homers in six consecutive games to lead the Mets to an NL Championship. Murphy did not play second base every day until 2012 and was raw at the position but turned himself into a very serviceable defender. He is third all-time on the Mets doubles list with 228.

2. Edgardo Alfonzo (1995-2002)

Edgardo Alfonzo spent the earlier part of his career at third base but moved over to second when Robin Ventura arrived in 1999 and stayed there until 2001. During that period, he hit .293/.381/.487 and averaged 23 home runs and 34 doubles per season. Alfonzo added an All-Star appearance, four postseason home runs, and only made 22 errors during those three seasons.

3. Jeff McNeil (2018-19)

Jeff McNeil settled in at second base during his rookie season in 2018, but the acquisition of Robinson Cano made him a utility guy in 2019. As a second baseman, he is hitting .323 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, and six triples. When baseball starts again, he will likely play a majority of third base.

4. Neil Walker (2016-17)

Neil Walker had the tall task of replacing Daniel Murphy and played great. The only problem came with Murphy’s power surge with the Washington Nationals over shadowed Walker’s greatness. He batted .275/.344/.462 with 33 home runs in 186 games in Flushing.

5. Jose Valentin (2006-07)

Jose Valentin earned his ranking based on his revival season of 2006. The 36-year old veteran batted .170 the year prior and took the job away from Kazuo Matsui. Valentin batted .271 with 18 home runs and 62 runs batted in to stabilize the bottom of the Mets order.

6. Luis Castillo (2007-10)

Unfortunately, Mets fans will only remember Luis Castillo for his dropped pop-up against the New York Yankees. He batted .274 with 55 stolen bases and still played Gold Glove defense at second base. Castillo only made 21 errors over 365 games.

7. Robinson Cano (2019)

The Mets took a significant risk in bringing in Robinson Cano, and he played just okay during his first season with the Mets. It was a tale of two seasons for Cano; he hit .240/.287/.360 with only four home runs during the first half of the season. Cano returned to his hall of fame form in the second half batting .284/.339/.541 with nine home runs and could have done more damage if a hamstring injury did not slow him down.

8. Roberto Alomar (2002-03)

Roberto Alomar seemed like a safer risk than Cano, but Alomar never produced as a Met. Like Cano, he only played okay but never put up his All-Star caliber numbers. Alomar’s .265 average was the lowest he had with any team he played with for at least 200 games.

9. Ruben Tejada (2010-15, 19) 

Before primarily playing shortstop, Ruben Tejada spent the first two seasons of his career playing second base. Never known for his power, he slashed .256/.338/.314 with only one home run but had 27 doubles in 174 games.

10. Kazuo Matsui (2004-06)

Kazuo Matsui was the definition of disappointment after coming with so much hype that Jose Reyes had to play second base in 2004. While the Yankees struck gold with a different Matsui, the Mets got one decent season in 2004 with Kazuo, but he was playing shortstop in all but three games. He hit .274 with 32 doubles during his rookie season but failed to keep himself on the field during the following two. Matsui ended up with the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Eli Marrero.

New York Yankees Should Trade For Luis Castillo

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New York Yankees, Jordan Montgomery

The New York Yankees recently took a blow to their rotation when the news dropped that starter Domingo German was going to miss the first 63 games of the MLB season. The suspension was in relation to a domestic abuse case from last season, something that German was rightfully suspended for. The MLB is looking to make sure that they don’t tolerate domestic abusers, and it’s seen names like the former Cubs SS Addison Russell and current Astros closer Roberto Osuna get lengthy suspensions for it. With German’s absence the Yankees will have to hope for production from a mixture of guys like JA Happ and Jordan Montgomery at the 5th spot, but what if the Yankees decided to do more? Like the Evil Empire has done time and time again, I believe the Yankees should go all out and make everyone hate them even more and get the young star, Luis Castillo.

Castillo’s Star Power

Luis Castillo is a 27-year-old power pitching starter for the Cincinnati Reds, a team looking to add some offensive depth. He broke out in 2019, posting a 3.40 ERA in 190.2 innings and 226 strikeouts and a 4.1 fWAR. He had a fantastic season, especially pitching in the Great American Ballpark where it’s 8th in Ballpark Factor Home Run rate. The young righty has dazzling pitches, with his fastball clocking in at an average of 96.4, a slider that opponents only hit .204 against, and his money pitch, the changeup. His changeup is the pitch he throws the most, throwing it 31.6% of the time. Opponents only hit .128 off of it with a minuscule .199 slugging %. He threw the pitch 998 times and only gave up 5 home runs off his changeup, meaning hitters had a .5% chance of hitting a home run off of him. Castillo’s got fantastic stuff, and it gives pitching coach Matt Blake a lot to work with.

Can Matt Blake Make Him Better?

Matt Blake is a fantastic choice for the Yankees, and he can definitely improve Luis Castillo. In 2019 Luis Castillo saw a decline in performance in the second half, with a 4.78 ERA after the all-star break. The reason for that could be how many innings he had pitched, as it was the most in his career, however, I believe it also has to do with his fastball. Luis Castillo relies heavily on his fastball too, as he threw it 28.9% of the time, but hitters slugged .504 off of it in 2019. While he does throw it hard, it doesn’t have a great spin rate, making it easier to hit. This is something we’ve already seen him notice as he throws a variant of the fastball in his sinker. It’s vastly superior to his fastball, clocking in at 96.5 MPH and despite the high batting average against (.283), it has a mere .414 slugging percentage against. Either improving his fastball or using his sinker more could allow for Castillo to improve and become a true ace.

Ballpark Favorability

There’s room to believe that the conditions at Yankee Stadium make it a great place for Castillo to pitch in. This is aided by the fact that the Great American Ballpark is 8th in Hits Rate according to Ballpark Factor while Yankee Stadium is dead last. This could lower his 6.6 H/9 and allow fewer baserunners. This is true for home runs too, as while the Great American Ballpark was 8th in Home Run Rate, Yankee Stadium was 25th. Castillo had given up 22 home runs for a 1.0 HR/9, and even that could go down in New York. The environment favors Castillo more and can allow him to pitch even better as a Bronx Bomber.

Let’s Make A Deal

Yankees Recieve: RHP Luis Castillo and $10 million

Reds Recieve: LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Deivi Garcia, 2B/SS/OF Tyler Wade,              C Anthony Seigler, and LHP JA Happ

The Yankees would receive the star starter Luis Castillo to give them the greatest rotation in baseball hands down alongside with salary relief. The Reds would receive two MLB ready starters, star prospect Deivi Garcia, MLB ready infielder Tyler Wade, and a  catching prospect in Anthony Seigler, as the Reds need a catcher of note for the future, and Seigler could be MLB ready in 2-3 years.

Ths deal would be insane and could alter the paths of these two teams for a long time, but at the same time, it would be so fun to watch the Yankees wreak havoc on all of baseball.