BAD INSURANCE

The Starlin Castro Saga may be getting darker. Details are sketchy, but one report had Castro "arrested" in regard to a second night club shooting incident in the past month in the Dominican.

The charges alone, if brought, could foul up Castro's Visa status for spring training. A long legal process could affect his 2015 playing status.

But the Cubs are rumored to be talking to a rapidly declining infielder with some past with the front office.

Free agent shortstop Stephen Drew is talking to four teams, including the Cubs.

 

The 31-year-old Drew was horrible in 2014, hitting for a miserable .162/.237/.299 in 300 plate appearances following a lengthy free agent process that left him unsigned until the end of May. Ultimately his -1.1 WAR was by far a career worst, though he provided some value on defense at shortstop, and later second base, when he moved to the Yankees.  

As reported, Drew's age and deteriorating skillset, should not be viewed as more than a potential reclamation project for the Cubs, who could bring him in on a one year deal and benefit from his veteran guidance and defensive versatility. So the idea to bring in Drew to a crowded infield with Castro at short, Baez at second, with Alcantara and Valbuena as utility men, makes no sense unless Castro is not in the picture. Baez could move to short and Drew could platoon at second, but for a player asking $10 million/year, that is an expensive bad insurance policy for the Cubs.

YANKEES SHORT

The Yankees returned to their Evil Empire spending by locking up Masahiro Tanaka to wrap up an expensive off-season of acquisitions.

Shortstop Derek Jeter will probably retire after the 2014 season. As such, NY media reports that the Yankees are kicking the tires on free agent Stephen Drew.

Drew, 30, has played 8 seasons. His career stats: 90 HR, 416 RBI,.264 BA, 16.1 WAR (3.1 WAR last year with Red Sox). For his average career, he is 2.01 WAR which is a starter.

I always felt that once Jeter retired, the Cubs could offer Starlin Castro to the Yankees. Castro, after 4 seasons, has hit 37 HR, 229 RBI, .283 BA and 7.4 WAR (last year negative 0.6). For his average career, he is a 1.85 WAR, which is pretty similar to Drew.

Castro is only 23 and has much more upside than Drew. Drew has experience which blends well with a veteran team. However, Castro could get a good recommendation from his buddy, Alfonso Soriano.

Trading Castro next year would open the shortstop position to Javier Baez. The front office claims that Baez is still going to be playing short at Iowa this year. So if not the Yankees, Castro could be traded to another team in need of a starting shortstop.