Second base was a mess for the Mets this year; an ongoing, energy-sucking question mark. Mets second basemen finished with the fourth-worst OPS in the National League, and those numbers weren't balanced with sterling defense. What made this all the more frustrating was that the organization apparently thought it had answered the question before the season by signing Luis Castillo to a four-year, $24 million contract.
But despite Castillo's injury and performance issues, he's still signed for three more seasons and remains first on the depth chart. And according to Joel Sherman,
it's not just the contract …
But there is another reason the Mets have not prioritized removing Castillo, and that is because, The Post has learned, Castillo requested an offseason meeting in which he implored Mets officials not to trade him and also pledged to re-dedicate himself to offseason training to assure he is in top condition next season.
In the October meeting with GM Omar Minaya and top lieutenant Tony Bernazard, Castillo accepted responsibility for his out-of-shape, poor 2008 and stated a desire to make amends -- in New York. Mets officials were pleased that Castillo did not want to flee from the problems. Instead, he stated a desire to play and win as a Met, and change the fans' booing opinion of him, as well.
"He wanted to let the front office know that he was disappointed in how the year went, and promise to do everything he could to get in shape and be the kind of player he had been for 10 years," Minaya said.
Minaya and Bernazard stressed in the meeting that Castillo must project a more positive demeanor, and that he cannot allow himself to show up in as poor shape this spring training as he did following knee surgery last year.
There's been talk about Daniel Murphy playing second base next year, but apparently he's going to spend
most of his time in left field. Somebody has to play second base, and the No. 1 candidate is the guy who's still owed $18 million.
That said, I wouldn't be worried so much about last year as I would be about the previous two years.
In 2006 with the Twins, Castillo finished with a 91 OPS+.
In 2007 with the Twins and the Mets, it was 93.
That's called "establishing a level of performance."
Then the Mets signed Castillo to a new four-year contract.
Now, there's nothing terribly wrong with a second baseman of that performance level. But Castillo was (and still is) in his early 30s,
and was (and presumably still is) fading as a defender. Figuring on Castillo as their second baseman in 2008 wasn't a serious mistake; it just didn't work out. But there's simply no reason for a team with the Mets' money and aspirations to commit to a player like Castillo for four years. Maybe he comes back strong next year, and if so, he might be worth the $6 million. But it was never reasonable to think Castillo would be a championship-quality player for three or four years.
If Castillo does win the every-day job next spring and plays decently all season, the Mets should 1) count themselves lucky and 2) redouble their efforts to jettison Castillo and find a long-term solution at the position.
Rob Neyer
