Cubs call up top prospect SS Starlin Castro

[TooLiveBrew]

Link, courtesy FanGraphs & author Bryan Smith.

After being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs have informed top prospect Starlin Castro that he has been promoted to the Major Leagues, according to ESPN’s Enrique Rojas. Castro will join the team for this weekend’s tilt in Cincinnati and, presumably, will become the starting shortstop, with Ryan Theriot moving across the bag to second base. Castro turned 20 on March 24, and has a cumulative 243 plate appearances above A-ball.

...

I can find 27 examples of a middle infielder debuting in the Major Leagues at 20, but just 7 examples in the last 30 years: Wally Backman, Roberto Alomar, Wil Cordero, Luis Castillo, Jose Reyes, Jose Lopez and Elvis Andrus. Of that group, only Andrus and Castillo made the jump, and Castillo would be returned to Triple-A for parts of the next two seasons. The Cubs are in rare, but not uncharted, territory with this aggressive promotion of an elite talent. On Monday, I plan to further investigate whether this is any effect of a prospect being “rushed” by jumping Triple-A.

 

There will be varied opinions on how this move will [a]ffect Castro’s development, [but] there is also the factor of whether or not Castro will make the Cubs better. Castro is essentially replacing the duo of Fontenot and Baker, a second base team that has put up a cumulative .262/.310/.346 batting line this year. ZiPS had Fontenot projected at .266/.331/.406 the rest of the season, and Baker at a similar .258/.319/.429. This .330 wOBA is Castro’s benchmark, a level he must hit at for Jim Hendry’s drastic move to hold any kind of water. There are also the defensive ramifications, as Baker and Fontenot both had 1.5 UZR through the last fielding update.

...

However this is portrayed by people, the Cubs did not call up Castro on a whim. Whether the thinking behind the move is misguided will be a consistent point of discussion during Castro’s tenure on the north side, and it will begin with the wins and losses this team sees as a result of their middle infield play this season. If Castro doesn’t have a .330 wOBA and +5 UZR/150 defense, then I really can’t justify what Jim Hendry is trying to do here. As I said, the benchmark has been set.

[nate82]

Maybe I am reading to much into this but it looks as though the Cubs are in desperation mode here.

[TheCrew07]

This seems awfully reactionary, akin to Milwaukee summoning Braddock for a bullpen role after 1 month of the season. I guess when you are the Cubs you don't really have to worry about super 2 status, but I'm not seeing the upside here in rushing Castro for the Cubs in terms of wins or money saved?

 

He's hitting to a .990 OPS thus far in AA which is far and away better than anything he's done prior in his MiLB career so it's possible the light went on him for him.

 

I really hate the Cubs (the only team in the division I actually loathe) and they have some pretty nice pitching talent quickly approaching the big leagues as well. At least they have all those bad contracts still weighting them down.

[TooLiveBrew]

I agree with you two that this is a move rooted in over-reaction. Both to their current 2B situation, and Castro's performance in AA. TheCrew07 makes an important point in noting that the Cubs don't have to worry about money wrt to their prospects' promotions/service time. It's an enviable position.

 

I just can't see Castro proving this move sensible, and it really seems like Hendry is grasping at straws to try & salvage this season (see: Zambrano, Carlos to bullpen). The funny thing to me is that I honestly don't think Hendry is expecting Castro to produce at a ~.750 OPS & ~5+ UZR/150 level, which, like Smith notes, is what it would take to justify the move. I really think Hendry just basically thought, 'Well, crap. He's got to be better than what I've got up here. Call him up. He's our top prospect.'

 

 

I have to admit, it's going to be kind of fun to watch the Cubs really suffer from those bad contracts & aging players we've discussed in recent seasons. Soriano is likely done being a useful player, since he's absolutely horrific on defense (signed through 2014 at $18M/yr.). Lee is probably on borrowed time, but at least this is the last year of his contract ($13M for '10). I think Ramirez will still be a good player for another season or two ($15.75M this season, $14.6M player option for '11, $16M club option/$2M buyout for '12), but he will probably be overpaid. Fukudome ($13M this season, $13.5M for '11) without question will not be worth his money.

 

That's like a how-to book for irresponsible spending. But to add onto that, there's Hendry taking on Carlos Silva -- and his remaining minimum price tag of $25M through 2011 -- because the Cubs wanted to make a villain of Milton Bradley. I guess I just hope the Cubs keep Hendry as GM.

 

http://i.imgur.com/l5mzS.jpg

[trwi7]

2-5 with a HR, triple and 6 RBI in his debut. Third youngest player in history to hit a HR in his first major league at bat and the most RBI in a debut ever.

[logan82]

Guess Escobar's chances for rookie of the year just went down a bit.

[Ennder]

Guess Escobar's chances for rookie of the year just went down a bit.

 

I doubt Castro is in the race, it is pretty much Heyward's to lose. I don't think Escobar was really in the race either, he just doesn't do anything that looks impressive to the people who vote for these things.

[jackalope02ca]

Wow after that debut the Cubs look like geniouses. I gotta say I was impressed even if he is a Cub. Maybe he wants out already as he knows he can never win with the Cubs and is trying to get to free agency as quickly as he can.

[The Heartbreak Yid]

Guess Escobar's chances for rookie of the year just went down a bit.

 

I doubt Castro is in the race, it is pretty much Heyward's to lose. I don't think Escobar was really in the race either, he just doesn't do anything that looks impressive to the people who vote for these things.

Im not going lie, as a Cubs fan, I met the promotion with mixed emotions. I was excited to see what he can do, but wondered if he was rushed, especially when the 800lb gorilla in the room isnt the middle infield, its Aramis Ramirez producing zilch. If you look over Cubs hitters stats, pretty much everyone but Ramirez is producing at some level, and, and while its not uncommon for teams to have a black hole somewhere in the lineup, when its smack in the heart of the lineup, its going to hurt a lot more than say, Jason Kendall at the 8 spot. Back to Castro I see him putting up numbers this year similar to what Gordon Beckham did for the White Sox last year, with a .270s-.280/mid .300s/mid.400s type of line. Castros obstacle is that we have a senile manager known for knee jerk reactions, and as soon as Starlin goes 1-10 at some point, he'll be banished to the bench. As for ROY, Heywards the clear fav hitting .294/.1.000s and 8HR and 26RBI.

 

[Thurston Fluff]

They brought him up during a hot streak so in that respect it's not bad. What happens when he's not will be what determines the value of this move. Overall it's hard to think he's really ready for this.

 

 

But to add onto that, there's Hendry taking on Carlos Silva -- and his remaining minimum price tag of $25M through 2011 -- because the Cubs wanted to make a villain of Milton Bradley. I guess I just hope the Cubs keep Hendry as GM.

 

Silva has been a serviceable pitcher this season and Bradley is curled up in a corner hiding from the world somewhere. The Cubs finally saw what JAck Z. must not have. dude has problems beyond laziness or attitude. He's really not well. This isn't the normal bad guy thing it's looking more and more like true mental illness. I went from laughing at him to pulling for him to get through this.

Bradly is signed through 2011 at I beleive $11 million or so as well. Of all the things Hendry did wrong I don't think this is one to point out.

[rluzinski]

Unless a team has infinite financial resources, they should care about service time.

[BREWCREW5]

Unless a team has infinite financial resources, they should care about service time.

Well then the cubs should not care.

[hawing]

the most RBI in a debut ever.

I read this morning that several players are tied with 5 RBI in a debut game, with the most recent being Ben Grieve in 1997.

[jjfanec]

After his big first game Starlin has struggled some over his next 3 games, especially in the field. He made 3 errors last night (bringing him to 4 in 4 games) and could have gotten charged with a mental error. After his third error of the night on a ground ball he slowing went over toward the ball and Hanley Ramirez went all the way to second. Offensively he is 2 for 9 with 2 walks, so I guess he is not struggling with the bat. The kid still looks like he is going to be very good, but he is not going to be scaring Jason Heyward.

[dlk9s]

DFA Castro

[TooLiveBrew]

Figured an update would be appropriate. Prior to play today, his line is .375/.434/.500/.934 in 53 plate appearances. With a .405 BABIP, I think it's safe to say he'll cool off, but he's been great in his limited time so far.