Castillo is a Go

As fast as it was tweeted, the Phillies community started buzzing about New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo rumored to be on his way to Philadelphia. And almost just as fast as it took to type that sentence, it was confirmed by Jim Salisbury that the Phillies offered the 35-year-old a minor league deal and that Castillo agreed.

Photo: New York Times

The two-time Gold Glove winner made his MLB debut in 1996 with the Florida Marlins. He has a career .290 batting average, .368 on-base percentage, and .758 OPS. His best offensive years were arguably 2000, when he went .334/.418/.806 over 136 games, and in 2003, going .314/.381/.778 in 152 respectively. Castillo played only 86 games in 2010, sidelined with injuries and posting career low numbers (.235/.337/.604).

Another former Met, Wilson Valdez, spent some time at second base last season in Utley's absence and batted .258/.326/.664 over 111 games - the best numbers of his career.

Castillo was at the end of a 4-year/$25 million contract with the Mets when he was placed on waivers Friday, and could become a cheap, quick fix for The Chase Utley Situation of 2011 should none of the current Phillies catch the organization's eye, either as a shoe-in for a spot on the opening day 25-man roster, or as a call-up should things not work out with the crapshoot that's laid before Charlie heading into the last few days of Spring Training.

And if he doesn't work out? Well, then you eat the $400,000 he's owed and cut him loose.

It doesn't need to be said that by the Phillies assessing their options, especially in the Luis Castillo of Present Day category, it shows just how concerned they really are about Chase Utley's recovery and that they are taking zero chances after being so badly bit by the injury bug in 2010. Pin It Now!