Should the Cubs Consider Trading Starlin Castro?

Starlin Castro

The Cubs were horrendous in 2012, that much is obvious.  However, the team had a few bright spots in first baseman Anthony Rizzo, starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija, and shortstop Starlin Castro.  Castro, only age 22, has been a Cubs regular since 2010 (he collected six RBI in his first MLB game) and he hasn't disappointed - after three seasons in in Chicago he carries a career .297 average, has already eclipsed 500 career hits, and has increased his power each season.

Castro may even be the best young shortstop in the game.  Doubt it?  Try naming one better.  Even with a prolonged slump in 2012, he still posted a .283 batting average, hit 14 home runs and 12 triples, and 78 runs.  He ranked seventh among shortstops in batting average - no one above him was younger. He led all shortstops in RBI (78) and triples (tied at 12 with Jose Reyes), and was third among shortstops in hits (183).  Remember, this is a 22 year-old who has consistently produced at the major league level.  Guys like that don't come around often.

Starlin does have his problems though.  A perceived lack of effort and concentration has led to a position-leading 27 errors in 2012.  Asdrubal Cabrera, who was second in shortstop errors, wasn't even close (19).  Castro still has problems with plate discipline as well - his strikeouts have increased and his on-base percentage has deceased each year he has been in the majors.  He only walked 36 times in a league-leading 646 at bats in 2012.  He isn't polished by any means.

Javier Baez

The question is simple: Do the Cubs think that Starlin Castro is a necessary piece on which to build the foundation of a winning team?  A good shortstop is a necessity, but it is possible that Castro could be replaced.  The Cubs currently have top prospect Javier Baez waiting in the minors and while he isn't polished either he has star potential written all over him.  Baez turns 20 on December 1 and last season at Single A Peoria he hit .333 in 57 games with 12 homers and 33 RBI.  He's raw, but his performance in the Arizona Fall League showed he has the tools to be a success in Chicago.

If the Cubs trust that Baez will eventually be ready to step in as the Cubs' everyday shortstop, will they be willing to trade Starlin?  Castro recently signed a seven year, $60 million dollar deal, which means some teams will automatically be out of any possible deal, but other teams will jump at the chance to acquire a good shortstop at a relatively affordable price.  If the Cubs can find the right player to target - say, Justin Upton of the Diamondbacks - Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer must seriously consider making a move.  Losing Castro may be unpopular with some fans, but pulling the trigger on a deal could lead to a more competitive Cubs team.

Gotta Love the Futures Game

As a guy who typically likes to check milb.com (the online home of Minor League Baseball, for those you don't know) at least once daily, the Futures Game is one of my favorite parts of the MLB All-Star festivities.  It's not often that you can watch baseball's top prospects on national television, so tune in right now to ESPN2 if you want to see prospects from your favorite club.  Here is a look at three of the most hyped prospects on the rosters of the U.S. and World teams.

Jurikson Profar: Some may remember watching him play for Curacao in the Little League World Series awhile back, but now the 19 year-old is now raking at Double-A for the Texas Rangers (Frisco RoughRiders).  He already homered in the first inning and singled in the third inning of the Futures Game, which continues a good season in which he has compiled a .292 average, nine homers, 39 RBI, and nine stolen bases.  He also happens to be the youngest player at Double-A.  He was recently named the number two prospect in Baseball America's Midseason Top 50 Prospects list, so Elvis Andrus better watch out, as Profar will probably force him to move to second base in the coming years.  MILB Player Profile: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=595777

Dylan Bundy: The Orioles' prospect is only 19, but he is already one of the best pitching prospects in baseball.  He was recently named baseball's number one prospect in the Baseball America Midseason Top 50 Prospects list.  He throws a mid-to-high nineties fastball, a 12-6 hammer, and a power change-up.  In eight starts for the low-A Delmarva Shorebirds he did not allow an earned run, while striking out 40 batters in 30 innings.  After his promotion to high-A Frederick Keys, Bundy has gone 4-2 with a 3.58 ERA in seven starts.  MILB Player Profile: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=605164

Billy Hamilton: How many steals could the Reds' 21 year-old prospect possibly have only 82 games into the season?  How about 104 - which is downright ABSURD.  Half way through his season for the high-A Bakersfield Blaze, Hamilton is batting .323 with one homer, 30 RBI, and those 104 steals.  He just tripled to dead center in the Futures Game, which unfortunately doesn't give him much of a chance to steal a base (unless he goes balls to wall and steals home).  Baseball America ranked him as the 27th best prospect on its Midseason Top 50 Prospects list.  MILB Player Profile: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=571740

Yoenis Cespedes: Mayor of Bomb City

So much for Oakland A's rookie outfielder Yoenis Cespedes starting the season off slowly.  Depsite many predictions that the Cuban import would struggle against MLB pitching, he has already hit three home runs in four games this seasons.  His stat line so far: .308/.400/1.077 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI.  Yeah, yeah, we're only four games into the season, so who cares about stats.  Well, they're still pretty impressive.  If you want more proof that Cespedes should be given the keys to Bomb City, check out this absolute blast he hit on Friday night.

I don't care if the guy hits .240 the rest of the season.  If he keeps hitting taters like that, people will keep watching him.  That is just absolute raw power right there.  See ball, hit ball, watch ball go a very long way.  I would already give him a nomination for the home run derby this year.  In fact, I've already drafted Cespedes in two fantasy baseball drafts, one before the season started (so I benefited from his home runs and I can tell people that I knew he was going to play well, of course) and one last night.  Looks like he could be the sleeper pick of the season.  We will just have to wait and see.

It's Been Awhile... Let's Get Some Runs!

So it's been awhile since I posted on my blog. My bad I know - I've been busy and just generally got out of the habit of posting.  Whoops.  Anyway, baseball is finally back and I decided to spend a measly twenty dollars on MLB.com in order to listen to every Cubs game.  Why the hell didn't I do this years ago?  That little for so many Chicago losses (and maybe a few wins?).  Just hearing the organ play behind the deep voice of Pat Hughes - life couldn't get any better.  Actually, strike that.  My friend Stuart just sent me a picture of himself sitting in the bleachers at Wrigley and I'm sitting in the Trinity College library writing a policy implementation paper.  Booyah...

Anyway, the season is back and the Cubs lost their first game of the season.  All feels right in the world again.  It should be an interesting season, what with Theo beginning to mold the Cubs into a possible winner but having to wait through what should be longggg summer of 2012.  For any Cubs fan, the beginning of the season brings the possibility of fielding a winner, tempered with the reality that come October, we'll be watching different teams duke it out in the playoffs.  Despite that fact, this is still the absolute best time of year.  Now if only I could stop writing this paper and fly to Chicago.

I'll leave you all with the most recent New Era commercial, celebrating a great Chicago rivalry (even though the Cubs are clearly superior).