The New York Yankees have acquired infielder Starlin Castro from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Adam Warren and a player to be named later that will reportedly be utility man Brendan Ryan.
Castro attracted his fair share of trade speculation over the past year, and the Yanks were one of the clubs frequently identified as a potential match. With Ben Zobrist inking a four-year contract to join the Cubs, a deal shipping Castro to New York quickly followed.
The exchange comes with some concerns, but at the moment it seems to make sense for both sides. Second base has been nothing short of a black hole for the Yankees since the departure of Robinson Cano two years ago. Despite the occasional propensity for the long ball, Stephen Drew spent much of last season struggling to keep his average above the Mendoza line.
New York was looking at a platoon of 24-year-old Rob Refsnyder and Dustin Ackley as next year’s second base arrangement, but the addition of Castro makes the situation much clearer.
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In his six big league seasons thus far, Castro hasn’t quite delivered on the promise that made him Baseball America’s top-rated Cubs prospect in 2009. He slashed .297/.336/.425 from his 2010 rookie campaign through 2012, earning two All-Star nods along the way. However, he slumped in 2013 as his line sagged to .245/.284/.347.
Castro rebounded in 2014, posting a .292/.339/.438 slash line with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs. The most recent season was another struggle, though, as his production once again dipped to the tune of .265/.296/.375.
The Yankees are banking on another turnaround from Castro in 2016, and there is some reason for hope in that regard. Castro finished last season in torrid fashion, slashing .369/.400/.655 with five home runs and 21 RBIs from the start of September through the end of the regular season. This hot streak also happened to coincide with him becoming the Cubs’ regular second baseman, the position the Yanks are poised to have him play.
A change of scenery could do Castro some good, and at age 25 he’s still young enough to have room to grow and improve. If he pans out, he and shortstop Didi Gregorius will give the Yankees a fairly young, athletic middle infield tandem under team control for several more years, albeit Castro at a heftier price tag (he’s owed $38 million over the next four seasons).
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In the worst case scenario, Castro ends up looking like the player he was for much of the first half of 2015, and the Bronx Bombers and their fans will wonder if the Refsnyder/Ackley combination might actually have been at least as productive.
The Cubs, on the other hand, receive Adam Warren, who has been quietly dependable for the Yanks the last few years out of both the rotation and bullpen. The 28-year-old made 43 appearances last season, 17 of them starts, manufacturing a 3.29 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 2.67 K/BB ratio over 131.1 innings. He should continue to be a versatile and effective arm in Chicago.
Brendan Ryan also makes his way to the Cubs. The 33-year-old doesn’t have much of a bat to speak of (.212/.278/.289 the past five years), but he has a reputation as a strong defender around the infield.
Though signs have pointed to the Yankees tending to a relatively quiet offseason, this trade could open up some further possibilities for them. With his role in the organization’s future plans now in doubt, Refsnyder could be dangled in other deals. Brett Gardner‘s name continues to surface in rumors, and the Yanks would probably be willing to move him if they could get a young, controllable starting pitcher in return.
With a few days remaining at the 2015 Winter Meetings, look for both the Yankees and Cubs to remain factors in the proceedings.