His Goal in Life Was to Be an Echo: Ramon Castro Not a Jay, Wednesday Timbits

by hugo on Dec 30, 2009 1:28 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

So, remember back in mid-December when the Jays signed catcher Ramon Castro, which seemed to set up a three-catcher battle (Castro, John Buck, and Raul Chavez) for two spots behind the plate?

Well, it turns out that the Jays never actually signed Castro, according to the Fan's Mike Wilner:

It turns out that the power-hitting back-up catcher who everyone reported that the Blue Jays had signed earlier this month is still a free agent. The Jays never did sign him, despite getting involved in negotiations with him. I’m not sure how or why it fell through, or if it even got close enough to reach the point where one can even accurately say that it "fell through", but it didn’t happen. Right now, John Buck is the Jays’ starting catcher, and Raul Chavez will be his back-up.

I have to say, I am somewhat hoping that the Jays decide to sign Castro after all, though Wilner makes it seem as though that ship has sailed. Not that he's amazing, but he is respectable on both sides of the ball and is at least as good as the catchers who have gotten two-year deals. His bat's got some pop and while he won't hit for a high average, he's patient enough to not be an out-machine, at least, for a backstop.

In some other Jays news, General Manager Alex Anthopolous is getting married on Saturday and is then off to Hawaii for 10 days. While Wilner writes that this won't stop AA from wheeling and dealing, my guess is that Mrs. Anthopolous-to-be has different thoughts about that, at least regarding any major moves. A minor move is certainly a possibility, though. Congrats to AA and his bride!

Finally, tomorrow is your last chance to vote for Tom Cheek (there's also a link right on the sidebar, just click on Tom's smiling face) for the Hall of Fame's Ford Frick award. While Cheek has all but clinched the final ballot, it'd be nice to make sure he comes in first and by as big a margin as possible, so vote now!

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Wouldn't we better off....

having a catcher that can hit for contact for now? Castro’s stats are a nightmare. I would rather the Jays get a guy someone who can bat in the .250-.270 range for backup rather than one who had 7HR and 25 RBI last year. Furthermore, he is gonna turn 34 during spring training. Why not give someone from the farm a shot of making the team instead?

by hulkamaniaz on Dec 30, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions

Castro's stats aren't a nightmare at all

offensively he’s more than solid for a backup and better than some starters out there. He’s not great, I agree, but you have to at least look past his batting average.

If we had someone on the farm who could do a better job, I’d be all for it, but we have Arencibia, who clearly isn’t ready for major-league pitching, Jeroloman, who had awful numbers in AA last year, or Phillips, who can hit a little bit but the with whom the team doesn’t feel comfortable behind the plate. In the end, it’ll be none of these, it’ll be Buck as the starter and Chavez as the backup, and that’s fine. It would have been nice to have the depth of another veteran catcher (which, remember, is what Chavez was last year, the third catcher coming out of camp) but it’s not a big deal at all.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Dec 30, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

You are right. I guess it makes sense to have veteran depth at that position, specially with our young rotation. It would really suck if Chavez or Buck go down to injury, as happened last year to our initial number 2 catcher.

by hulkamaniaz on Dec 30, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

To be honest, I think I’d be as comfortable to go with Kyle Phillips as my emergency number 3 guy, but power has its own allure.

by dexfarkin on Dec 30, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Phillips is a minor league free agent

Maybe BOS signs him like they did Angel Sanchez and Fabio Castro!

by Andy Mc on Dec 30, 2009 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously Gone Crazy

But I’m actually kind of excited to see how Buck does. I know his career numbers and such, but my wholly unsupported by fact gut feeling I get from him is the same as I got from Zaun; a guy who just needs the right club to blossom into a very solid guy behind the dish, good with the pitchers, ready to mentor a younger, higher end prospect in a year or two, and make an impact. I can see Buck as an unexpected hero in 2010.

So, you know, next December you can all make fun of me for it.

by dexfarkin on Dec 30, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions

I'm cool with Buck being the starter too

it’ll be interesting to see how he does

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Dec 30, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

I’m cool with seeing Buck as well, but I’m not really expecting much more than Rod Barajas type stats, at least with the bat.

by The Playa on Dec 30, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

excited huh?

by aagoodfella on Dec 30, 2009 3:06 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Yeah...

You can tell it’s a rebuilding year when it’s a mediocre catcher that you’re looking forward to watching. I just have a kind of weird feeling about him, going through his career stats. Like this guy has been on the verge of everything connecting at the same time, and just needs a new scene to make it happen.

Call me an idealist, but the mythic nature of baseball still appeals to me. Occasionally, it leads me to weird hairbrained beliefs like John Buck in 2010.

by dexfarkin on Dec 30, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

you are quite the idealist ;-)

by aagoodfella on Dec 30, 2009 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Buck will surprise!

> .700 HERE WE COME!

by Andy Mc on Dec 30, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

OPS that is!

by Andy Mc on Dec 30, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

No Kidding

I’m a Jays fan. Realists own Yankee caps.

by dexfarkin on Dec 30, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Tom Cheek has my vote

unfortunately, my employer is blocking the site so my vote can not be cast. Perhaps some of you can vote for me? Thanks.

MsC

by Ms_Canuck on Dec 30, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions

is it possible...

that the Jays might still be interested in Doumit? Pirates are reportedly looking for a closer, could Accardo or Frasor be a good match?

Doumit could start at catcher or also play some RF for the Jays…just a thought…

by bunner on Dec 31, 2009 4:03 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn’t doubt that they’re still in some kind of talks, but who knows where it sits right now?

by dexfarkin on Dec 31, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions

And since AA is away it might stall things. A quick phonecall confirmation is one thing but banging out a trade might take a bit more time.

Life as a Toronto Sports Fan?... *sigh*... It is what it is...

by JohnnyG on Dec 31, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

Cubs have been talking with the Jays about Frasor

I really want to see Doumit on the Jays.

HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THEM, I PRESS DOWN MAH GUNS!

by BenjiDoc on Jan 1, 2010 6:56 AM EST up reply actions

i m getting a little worried about the gutting of RP staff. If Frasor goes, that is League and Frasor. Starts to add up.

by aagoodfella on Jan 1, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions

it does seem to weaken the pen short term

but we also have Roenicke, Zinicola, Henn, Collins and Farquar knocking on the door – so it makes sense to move guys like Downs and Frasor, who are entering free agency next year.

We also have Janssen and McGowan likely starting this year in the pen. So the top guys may be moving on, but hopefully, the guys we have will be at least serviceable this year.

by ayjackson on Jan 2, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

good point on the FA thing … in that case, I think it might be a good trade

by aagoodfella on Jan 2, 2010 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

true, but on the other hand

relievers typically don’t return much in trades. I’d be up for shopping them around, definitely, but it’s also very possible that the return would be less than the draft picks we would get from Downs and Frasor, who are both likely to be Type A free agents, will be worth. remember, Speier turned into Brett Cecil (and Eric Eiland) when he left. If we can’t get anything other than spare parts, we should hold onto them and take the picks.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 4, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions