Miami Marlins: Where could the Fish flip new infielder Starlin Castro?
By Tim Boyle
Recently acquired infielder Starlin Castro may not play a game for the Miami Marlins. If they flip him before the 2018 season begins, where could he land?
Ex-Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will play for the New York Yankees in 2018. The blockbuster deal sent the reigning National League home run king to the Bronx Bombers this weekend. In exchange, the Yankees sent the Marlins two prospects and veteran infielder Starlin Castro.
Among those involved in this deal, Castro seemed to get the rawest deal of all. After getting traded to the Yankees a year before the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, the 27-year-old four-time All-Star was ready to compete again for a new squad. Now, he’ll head to a rebuilding Marlins squad. However, his time in South Florida could soon change.
The Marlins want to shed payroll and as much of it as they can. They’ve already traded second baseman Dee Gordon to the Seattle Mariners and are now safe from paying Stanton for the next century. More trades could follow, including one which sends Castro into another team’s uniform.
Castro’s contract will pay him $10.8 million in 2018, $11.8 million in 2019, and comes with a $16 million option in 2020. There’s a $1 million buyout option in 2020 should his team choose to go that route.
The Marlins, while free of some financial burden, probably don’t want to pay Castro for the next two seasons when he’s better off used in a separate trade. If they go the Mike Piazza direction with him, where could he go?