Congratulations Starlin Castro

[Jntg4]

Not only did he get your 500th hit before age 23, being the 28th player to ever do so, but he now is up to a 100 OPS+! And for people who like dumb stats, got out of the .270s to a .281 average!

 

[BearsMod1]

i think he is a excellent player, and Cubs signed him for cheap.

his arrow is pointing to Pluto

 

[dabears253313]

Good for him. He's the man.

 

[Huffalicious]

You Cubs fans are lucky to have him. He's a pretty awesome hitter.

Honestly, if I were him, I wouldn't have signed that extension with the Cubs, because I don't think he would have any problem landing a big contract on a few pretty good teams, where he would have actually had a shot at winning a championship, or a division title at the least.

 

[waldo7239117]

Young players don't care about the money and only care about locking up long-term with their current team. Longoria, McCutchen etc....

 

[Huffalicious]

Young players don't care about the money and only care about locking up long-term with their current team. Longoria, McCutchen etc....

I didn't really say it was about money, more so being about playing for a team that's actually going to compete, for the same price the Cubs were going to pay.

 

[Rice Cube]

I didn't really say it was about money, more so being about playing for a team that's actually going to compete, for the same price the Cubs were going to pay.

Longoria and McCutchen signed when the Rays and Pirates, respectively, weren't really expected to do much. Although the Rays had a good core coming up with their smart drafts and trades and the Pirates have been stockpiling prospects for years, so maybe they had an inkling. Castro would still be in his prime by the projected timetable and he'd still be like $60MM richer. If the Cubs get good by then he'll be fine. If they still suck he can decide to go elsewhere and still get paid. It's not a terrible decision by either side as there are plenty of options available to both.

 

[Huffalicious]

Longoria and McCutchen signed when the Rays and Pirates, respectively, weren't really expected to do much. Although the Rays had a good core coming up with their smart drafts and trades and the Pirates have been stockpiling prospects for years, so maybe they had an inkling. Castro would still be in his prime by the projected timetable and he'd still be like $60MM richer. If the Cubs get good by then he'll be fine. If they still suck he can decide to go elsewhere and still get paid. It's not a terrible decision by either side as there are plenty of options available to both.

Yeah, true. Hopefully the rebuilding plan comes together, but like you said ... even if it doesn't, I'm sure there won't be any shortage of teams that would want him.

 

[2SeamHeat]

Yeah, true. Hopefully the rebuilding plan comes together, but like you said ... even if it doesn't, I'm sure there won't be any shortage of teams that would want him.

Yeah, I'm also pretty sure that the Cubs approached Castro with the same sort of information about their plans for the future as the Pirates and Rays did with their two big stars. The Orioles did the same thing with both Markakis and Jones prior to their extensions. I think giving these young, up and coming stars an insight to the plan goes quite far with letting them know "Hey, we're not going to suck for much longer... and keeping you here will help with that." It also makes those players feel much more important to their current team when you tell them tell them you're going to build around them, rather than when they sign as a mercenary to another team just to fill a current vacancy.

 

[Huffalicious]

Yeah, I'm also pretty sure that the Cubs approached Castro with the same sort of information about their plans for the future as the Pirates and Rays did with their two big stars. The Orioles did the same thing with both Markakis and Jones prior to their extensions. I think giving these young, up and coming stars an insight to the plan goes quite far with letting them know "Hey, we're not going to suck for much longer... and keeping you here will help with that." It also makes those players feel much more important to their current team when you tell them tell them you're going to build around them, rather than when they sign as a mercenary to another team just to fill a current vacancy.

Totally unrelated, but at the same time very relatable, I feel like that's what the Bulls are going to have to do to get Taj Gibson to stay aboard.

I feel like it's a good approach, because I think every young star wants to stay with the team they got drafted by, etc. Especially if there is a big picture plan in place, like there is with the Cubs. They'd kind of want to be at the center of all that, and play a big role. Almost like... a leader role.

All this definitely helps when you have a large fanbase too!

Plus, to be on a Chicago Cubs team that wins a world series would make you like... a legend.

*This message may look like shit thanks to Tapatalk.

 

[waldo7239117]

Players just like to stay with the team that brought them up, win or lose. There the one that gave them the chance and they want to respect that. Players like to stay with their team and I like how that is. I'm happy the Cubs and Castro came down with a long-term deal.

 

[Rice Cube]

Part of the problem is risk. Starlin Castro was in a bit of a down season (at least offensively) and was set to go to arbitration. While he likely still would have made a buttload of money he wasn't going to make as much as he otherwise would have. This contract offer basically sets him for life, and a lot of players would like to have that kind of comfort knowing they don't have to play for a contract right then, and just concentrate on their game instead of negotiations. Naturally this plays into the "contract year myth" but that's probably a different thread

 

[Huffalicious]

Naturally this plays into the "contract year myth" but that's probably a different thread

*cough*AJ Pierzynski*couggghhhh*

*This message may look like shit thanks to Tapatalk.

 

[Rice Cube]

*cough*AJ Pierzynski*couggghhhh*

*This message may look like shit thanks to Tapatalk.

Unusual power numbers FTW! :woot:

 

[Huffalicious]

Unusual power numbers FTW! :woot:

Lol I'll take it.

*This message may look like shit thanks to Tapatalk.

 

[2SeamHeat]

Totally unrelated, but at the same time very relatable, I feel like that's what the Bulls are going to have to do to get Taj Gibson to stay aboard.

I feel like it's a good approach, because I think every young star wants to stay with the team they got drafted by, etc. Especially if there is a big picture plan in place, like there is with the Cubs. They'd kind of want to be at the center of all that, and play a big role. Almost like... a leader role.

All this definitely helps when you have a large fanbase too!

Plus, to be on a Chicago Cubs team that wins a world series would make you like... a legend.

*This message may look like shit thanks to Tapatalk.

Wait, so... my bringing up other reasons that Castro would have signed a deal that you claim you wouldn't sign becomes unrelated in topic of why Castro may have signed the deal?

It is a good approach, and one that should really only be done with the kind of player(s) you can truly build a strong future around. You don't go to Tony Campana and tell him that you think he's the future of the team and want to do what you can to keep him here long term and bring up other players with his same talent level and potential to build a lasting, competitive team.

As for the large fanbase... what fanbase do the Nationals have? The Rays? The Pirates? The Twins? The Rockies? We're talking some of the smallest fanbases in all of baseball, yet they've all been able to grant big extensions to their best players and young core. Of course, having a large fanbase would help grant more money... but that fanbase is actually better in place of adding players around that core, rather than keeping it. Just about every team is signing their top young players to long extensions these days. It's the teams with the larger fanbases that can still afford to go out and plug the rest of the holes on the roster via free agency or trades.

 

[ChicagoDawg1991]

So glad that the Cubs have him. Now if he can get his defense straight i'll be happier than i'am with him already