SEE YA, LUIS: The Mets released second baseman Luis Castillo yesterday, agreeing to eat the $6 million remaining on his contract. Castillo never recovered from the stigma of dropping an Alex Rodriguez pop fly that cost the Mets a game in 2009. (AP)
PORT ST. LUCIE — One down, one to go.
Luis Castillo’s disastrous tenure with the Mets ended yesterday, with the team agreeing to eat the $6 million remaining on the second baseman’s contract and release him. Oliver Perez, who also is expected to be dumped before the end of spring training, remains in camp.
Castillo was having a solid spring offensively, but frustrated team brass with his declining range at second base. General manager Sandy Alderson also admitted Castillo’s perception among fans — Castillo and Perez are emblematic of failures by the past regime — played large in the decision.
“It was a factor to us and I think it was a factor for Louie as well,” Alderson said. “Realistically, one has to admit those things can come into play.”
Castillo, who had requested to be released if he wasn’t going to make the team as the starter, ended a turbulent four-year tenure with the team. Castillo never recovered from the stigma of dropping a pop up at Yankee Stadium that cost the Mets a game in 2009, and last season he angered management by skipping a team visit to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center.
But Castillo was a target almost from the moment he signed a four-year deal worth $24 million with the Mets following the 2007 season. The perception was former general manager Omar Minaya had overpaid for a player on the decline.
“We just thought due to all the things [Castillo] would have had to face returning to New York, if he had a good 10 days and then a bad day, the good 10 days would have been second-place to the bad day,” manager Terry Collins said. “We just thought maybe it was time to move on and make a change.
“[Castillo] dropped a stinking pop up,” he said. “It’s not going to be the last time an error is ever made, and it’s not going to be the last time someone costs a team a game. Luis Castillo should not be blamed for anything except being a professional the way he handled this, and the way he went about this camp.”
Luis Hernandez is Collins’ choice for the starting job at second base, but the manager still must get the front office to put Hernandez on the roster. Brad Emaus and Justin Turner remain in the hunt. Daniel Murphy likely will make the team, but is not considered a serious candidate for the everyday job.
Jose Reyes, who was Castillo’s closest friend on the team, said the second baseman plans to continue playing.
“In one way it will be good for him: Get out of New York and hopefully find a job with another team,” Reyes said. “Castillo still can play. Castillo is going to help somebody.”
The Marlins reportedly already have spoken internally about the idea of signing the 35-year-old Castillo, who played for the team from 1996-2005 and is the franchise’s all-time hits leader.
Castillo was informed of his release late in the morning, hours after the Mets had reassigned eight other players to their minor league camp. Castillo’s release could be a precursor to Perez also receiving a pink slip, but the lefty said he isn’t concerned.
“I just come here every day to try and do my job,” Perez said. “Anything can happen to anybody. You just have to be ready for everything and try to do your best.”