WinningUgly!
11-29-2003, 02:37 PM
Castillo deal hits snag as Cubs come into picture
By Mike Berardino
Staff writer
Posted November 29 2003
Just when the Marlins thought they had Luis Castillo hooked, the speedy second baseman has wriggled off their line again.
Two days after it appeared the Marlins were about to finalize a deal to retain the free agent, Castillo is in play again.
"If there's anything that can be agreed upon, it's that there's absolutely no deal," Seth Levinson, one of Castillo's representatives, said Friday night. "We continue to negotiate with other teams and hope the Marlins revisit this matter."
Levinson would not divulge details of his negotiations, but an industry source said the Chicago Cubs entered the bidding Friday with an offer that was "very competitive" with the Marlins' three-year, $15.5 million bid.
Like the Marlins, the Cubs apparently are willing to include a fourth-year vesting option based on the number of plate appearances Castillo makes over the next three seasons. The Marlins' offer would make that additional year worth $6 million, pushing the total package to a potential $21.5 million for the 28-year-old switch-hitter.
If Castillo signs elsewhere, the Marlins could regret dealing first baseman Derrek Lee to the Cubs for Hee Seop Choi and a minor-leaguer on Tuesday. They made that salary dump under the impression a Castillo pact was highly likely, even pressuring Castillo for an answer in the days leading up to the trade.
Linky (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-marl29nov29,0,2903070.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines)
By Mike Berardino
Staff writer
Posted November 29 2003
Just when the Marlins thought they had Luis Castillo hooked, the speedy second baseman has wriggled off their line again.
Two days after it appeared the Marlins were about to finalize a deal to retain the free agent, Castillo is in play again.
"If there's anything that can be agreed upon, it's that there's absolutely no deal," Seth Levinson, one of Castillo's representatives, said Friday night. "We continue to negotiate with other teams and hope the Marlins revisit this matter."
Levinson would not divulge details of his negotiations, but an industry source said the Chicago Cubs entered the bidding Friday with an offer that was "very competitive" with the Marlins' three-year, $15.5 million bid.
Like the Marlins, the Cubs apparently are willing to include a fourth-year vesting option based on the number of plate appearances Castillo makes over the next three seasons. The Marlins' offer would make that additional year worth $6 million, pushing the total package to a potential $21.5 million for the 28-year-old switch-hitter.
If Castillo signs elsewhere, the Marlins could regret dealing first baseman Derrek Lee to the Cubs for Hee Seop Choi and a minor-leaguer on Tuesday. They made that salary dump under the impression a Castillo pact was highly likely, even pressuring Castillo for an answer in the days leading up to the trade.
Linky (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-marl29nov29,0,2903070.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines)