Rusney Castillo - to sign with Red Sox

[Angrioter]

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/133/files/2014/07/RusneyCastilloFinalOrtGame4.jpg

 

Unlike recent high-profile Cuban signees Yasiel Puig, Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes and Jorge Soler, Rusney Castillo doesn't immediately jump out at you for his physical stature. Cespedes is listed at just 5'10", but is a truck at 210 pounds. Yasiel Puig is a thoroughbred at 6'3", 245 pounds. Soler is a specimen at 6'4", 215 pounds with room to fill out his frame.

 

Even Jose Abreu, who doesn't have a great body, looks the part of a throwback power hitter at 6'2", 258 pounds.

 

At 5'9", 185 pounds, Castillo is actually smaller than Alexander Guerrero (5'10", 197 pounds). The good news is Castillo's built well for someone with a diminutive frame. He is all muscle and carries every pound very well.

 

Teams aren't always quick to give out big money to a "smaller" player without in-game performance, but Castillo could be an exception to that rule given the exploding market for Cuban defectors in recent years.

The Tools

 

Even more important than what Castillo looks like standing in a uniform is how he plays between the lines. Like most high-profile Cuban players, there are things to like and reasons to be skeptical about an MLB future.

 

Badler's report notes that Castillo has spent time playing center field, second base and third base in Cuba. Having versatility is going to help his market value, though he will have to overcome the stigma of an uninspiring .250/.352/.342 line in his final season at Serie Nacional.

 

Badler wrote a separate piece in December detailing Castillo's strengths and weaknesses on the field. Given his ability to play center field in Cuba, it should come as no surprise that Castillo's best tool is speed.

...he’s an above-average runner and one of the better base stealers in Cuba. More of a doubles hitter than a big home run threat, Castillo puts a charge into the ball with a line-drive righthanded swing, though he can get long to the ball at times and some scouts think he’s prone to chasing pitches off the plate.

 

What I can say, based on Badler's report and what video I have seen, is Castillo will be much farther away than players like Cespedes or Puig when he signs a deal. He's not going to jump immediately into the big leagues, or at least he shouldn't.

 

Where will Rusney Castillo start when he signs with an MLB team?

 

Castillo doesn't have elite bat speed, like Cespedes or Puig, but he has good hands, as well as excellent hand-eye coordination, and gets the barrel into the zone quick enough. He's going to have problems catching velocity, which is why some time in the minors would serve him well to adjust against better fastballs.

 

However, at 26, teams won’t want to wait around for Castillo to get ready. There isn't much time left in his prime years, which makes him even more of a risk, so ideally he’d be able to step into the big leagues right away.

 

Being a player who relies on speed, Castillo will have to stick in the big leagues early because legs are often the first thing to slow down as you get older.

 

He's never shown much patience or plate discipline in Cuba, as evidenced by 32 walks in 420 plate appearances in the 2011-12 season. That’s not an unusual trait for players coming from Cuba. They are trying to hit their way on base, so being an on-base percentage guy isn't likely going to be Castillo's strong suit.

 

On the positive side, Castillo's ability to play center field doesn't put all the pressure on his bat. I haven't seen him live, so it's impossible to say how much work he needs reading the ball off the bat or getting jumps and routes to the ball.

 

If he's polished with the glove, Castillo can bypass some steps up the minor league ladder and still be a valuable asset in the big leagues as a second-division (non-playoff team) regular or extra outfielder.

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/6479266/v34630127/cuban-of-prospect-rusney-castillo-preps-for-showcase

 

[Angrioter]

AA, sign the f***ing Mexican; Rasmus is garbage.

[GD]

We do need OF depth. Didn't we get linked to him? Or was that just Carbonell?

[G-Snarls]

Because he's 26 the usual international rules/pools don't apply right?

[G-Snarls]

That said this writeup from (where, BA?) isn't very encouraging. He's no Cespedes.

[GD]

That said this writeup from (where, BA?) isn't very encouraging. He's no Cespedes.

 

lol you probably need to adjust your expectations

[G-Snarls]

lol you probably need to adjust your expectations

 

I had no expectations before reading this.

[GD]

I had no expectations before reading this.

 

You did, though, by comparing him to Cespedes. He's obviously no Cespedes. But he's a whole hell of a lot cheaper and he's probably a very good 4OF or a decent starting CF. If you read the report with those expectations, it seems pretty decent.

[Angrioter]

He could be a decent CF, maybe better option $$-Production than Colby

[Atothe]

We need depth, sign to a reasonable contract. This is for the inevitable Bautista injury

[Deadpool]

I think in the short-medium term, he might be better off at second for us, but a "super utility" kinda guy always has value. He's not getting big dollars because of his age alone (he should have lied better!), so he might be worth a gamble.

[North of 60]

Nothing to see here, move along.

[Angrioter]

Boston or tigers on Rusney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4OgGWmkb4g&feature=youtu.be

[Atothe]

Jays really don't have money or I guess one of a thousand scouts told AA "not enough there"

[Angrioter]

Castillo could sign a deal as soon (Red Sox, Tigers, Phillies, Cubs, Yankees, and Mariners.) as the end of the week, Heyman adds. We’ve heard conflicting reports on Philadelphia’s interest, in particular, and one executive tells Heyman that he believes the team could be attempting to downplay its interest while working to ink Castillo.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/rusney-castillo-rumors-tuesday.html

[GeorgiaPeach]

Man, this guy fits well with our team, moving forward.

 

I'd rather the Jays look at Yosmani Tomas.

[GD]

I'd rather the Jays look at Yosmani Tomas.

 

Isn't he basically Dayan Viciedo?

[G-Snarls]

Can we get a god damn Cuban for once.

 

http://cdn.guyism.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Yunel-Escobar-640x605.jpg

[Jim_Ackers_balls]

Isn't he basically Dayan Viciedo?

 

Better defense and more than likely a better hitter. He's only 23. He was playing some CF in Cuba. He won't play that in the majors.

 

Jays have to look at outside the box solutions to help the outfield. Hopefully Rasmus isn't brought back. The idea of Melky signed to a long-term isn't very appealing (unless it's a two years and an option type of arrangement, but even still). I can see the Jays moving Bautista either to the infield or to another team.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Can we get a god damn Cuban for once. Ang help us out.

 

Aside from Yunel, we had Canseco.

[BigCecil]

Aside from Yunel, we had Canseco.

 

What about Hech...he will be up soon....oh ya..forget he is now in MIA.

[Orgfiller]

Isn't he basically Dayan Viciedo?

 

That's not a bad comp. He's probably a better hitter, he's got big power to all fields, and also has a strong arm but he's not a good defender so LF or 1B are the most likely positions for Tomas.

[RealAccountant]

We all know this isn't very likely so what's the point of dreaming?

[Angrioter]

Can we get a god damn Cuban for once. Ang help us out.

 

Are you new here?

 

Everybody knows that I hate Cubans.

[Angrioter]

Ken_Rosenthal 29s

Sources: #Tigers, #RedSox, #SFGiants still in mix for Rusney Castillo. #Cubs, #Yankees, #Phillies not expected to place high bid.

[Orgfiller]

Ken_Rosenthal 29s

Sources: #Tigers, #RedSox, #SFGiants still in mix for Rusney Castillo. #Cubs, #Yankees, #Phillies not expected to place high bid.

 

f***, I was hoping he would go to a team like the Cubs, I'm glad the Yanks and Phillies are out, hopefully Boston doesn't get him either in case he's the real deal.

[metafour]

Looks like 6 years $72 million with the Red Sox.

[Angrioter]

Rusney and Boston near to 6Yrs/72M deal

[GD]

I can't support giving him more than Abreu got.

[Atothe]

I can't support giving him more than Abreu got.

 

You can't support giving until he proves he is a good enough player like abreu. They must really believe he can step in immediately