Washington Nationals back up tough talk on Starlin Castro

The Washington Nationals have put their money where their mouth is. General manager Mike Rizzo stated that Starlin Castro would never play another game for the team in the wake of his suspension for domestic violence, going so far as to say that he should have personally vetted Castro better. But oftentimes, words spoken in the heat of the moment do not become reality.

That is not the case with the Nationals. As soon as Castro was reinstated, they lived up to their promises, releasing their former third baseman.

Washington Nationals cut Starlin Castro loose

While the Nationals have struggled to find production at third this season, bringing Castro back is not going to be an option. He was at least respectable with the bat, producing a .283/.333/.375 batting line with three homers and 20 doubles in his 346 plate appearances. However, even without that suspension, his time had passed as the Nationals have fallen out of the playoff race and are committing to giving the younger players a look.

Had he not been suspended, Castro may not have been long for the franchise anyway. The Nationals were looking to trade any veteran they could, and Castro’s ability to play multiple positions could have led to his being moved to a potential contender.

Instead, the Nationals were able to use Castro to prove a point. No matter how much a player could matter to the lineup, they are placing their culture and the integrity of the organization above what Castro could bring to the team over the final few weeks.

At a time when other organizations are embroiled in controversy due to player actions or the insanity in their front office, the Nationals are making certain to rise above. This will certainly help in any public relations battle, and will lead to the organization being a more welcoming environment.

The Washington Nationals have cut Starlin Castro free as they had promised. They more than backed up their organizational philosophy.