The Yankees held a private workout for Rusney Castillo on Friday at the minor league complex in Tampa and are interested in talking dollars with the free agent Cuban defector, who will have plenty of choices.
According to industry sources, the Phillies, Mariners, Giants, Tigers, Cubs, Red Sox and White Sox also have shown interest in Castillo.
And unlike other teams that were at the showcase event in Miami on July 26, to which the Yankees sent four scouts, the Yankees like the 27-year-old right-handed hitter as a second baseman. Other clubs believe the 5-foot-9, 205-pound Castillo’s future is in the outfield.
Boston and Philadelphia worked out Castillo at their facilities, and reports had the Cubs looking at him Wednesday in a private workout.
Billy Eppler, the Yankees’ assistant general manager, sent multiple scouts to watch Castillo’s workout Friday, but declined to share what was in the reports he received.
According to a person on the grounds in Tampa, the Yankees had several talent evaluators from the professional and international side watching Castillo, who travels with a guy who hits fungoes, another who throws batting practice and a third man who towels him off in between sessions.
Castillo is represented by Roc Nation, which is headed by Jay Z.
Unlike the showcase event, when Castillo hit against a personal batting practice pitcher, the right-handed hitter faced Yankees minor league pitchers Preston Claiborne and Caleb Cotham, who are rehabbing injuries at the complex.
The Yankees are impressed with Castillo’s work at second and, as do other clubs, like his athleticism and a body that reminds several of Rickey Henderson’s cut physique.
The Yankees believe if he signs with them, Castillo would open at second base and be moved to the outfield if needed.
With second base a question mark next year, the Yankees will have an opening at the position currently being manned by Stephen Drew, who will be a free agent after the season and likely looking for a multi-year deal to return to short. Of course, the Yankees will need a shortstop, so Drew could just move to the other side of the bag.
Minor leaguer Robert Refsnyder hit .342 at Double-A Trenton in 60 games and entered Friday night’s action batting .302 in 53 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
With Alex Rodriguez likely returning from suspension next year to be possibly be a full-time DH, Carlos Beltran will have to play right field, and that would eliminate Castillo from playing the outfield for the Yankees. Martin Prado can also play second, but he would be needed at third if Rodriguez is the DH and Chase Headley, an impending free agent, doesn’t return.
So, what will Castillo cost?
That depends on whom you ask. Some clubs feel that since White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (six years, $68 million) was underpaid compared with his rookie season production (.303; 31 home runs; 86 RBIs heading into Friday), Castillo can top what Abreu got. Others don’t believe Castillo is in the class of Yoenis Cespedes (four years, $36 million) and Yasiel Puig (seven years, $42 million).
Other recent contracts given to Cuban defectors are the five years and $15.5 million given to Leonys Martin by the Rangers and the nine-year, $30 million deal Jorge Soler got from the Cubs.
“This guy could get $35 million to $50 million because of what Abreu, Cespedes and Puig have done,’’ said a person who has seen Castillo work out. “But eventually somebody is going to be wrong about one of these guys.’’
Making it difficult to assess what Castillo is worth is the fact he hasn’t played in an organized game in more than a year.
The only looks scouts have gotten since then are in workouts. It’s a similar situation to the ones that faced Cespedes and Puig.
“The league he played in Cuba wasn’t great but there is [Cuban] momentum, who knows?’’ an MLB decision maker said when asked about how much Castillo will sign for.