Castellanos has some nice numbers in the Texas League this season -- .319/.379/.562 with 19 home runs, 62 RBI, 21 2B and 72 runs scored. However, he's playing above his talent level this season.
Here's a brief scouting report from Jim Callis of Baseball America:
"Castellanos was having a career year in Double-A (he ranks eighth in the Texas League in hitting, fifth in homers and fourth in runs scored), but he'll turn 25 on Thursday and his tools don't live up to his performance. He has some pop but he has a long swing and chases too many pitches out of the strike zone. His speed and defensive tools are fringy, and the former Belmont Abbey (N.C.) second baseman fits best in right field. Despite his 2011 numbers, he doesn't have the bat to profile as a big league regular there. He signed for $70,000 as a 10th-round pick in 2008."So, not a lot to get excited about. Not only from the report but also because the Dodgers have a glut of minor league outfield prospects: Jerry Sands, Trayvon Robinson, Scott Van Slyke, Alfredo Silverio, Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Angelo Songco, Blake Smith, Jonathan Garcia, James Baldwin, Scott Schebler, Joc Pederson and Noel Cuevas. All these guys have more upside than Castellanos and despite glaring holes at third base and catcher, Ned Colletti went and got himself another outfielder.
I understand we don't know how the negotiations went, but why in the world did the Dodgers need another OF? There are guys who should have been promoted a month ago who can't because of the logjam. Hopefully this is the last trade Colletti makes as the Dodgers' general manager.
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I was surprised at some of the negative reaction about Hiroki Kuroda not waiving his no-trade clause.
Yes, trading him would have likely brought back a quality prospect. But how can one be mad at a guy for exercising his right to stay? I understand being disappointed -- I was. But mad? I just don't get it.
One side of me is glad that the Dodgers didn't sell off more players because Colletti would have just messed it up. Another side of me wishes he could have dumped more vets for minor league talent. I also don't understand why Kuroda would want to stick around a bad team when he could have went to a contender.
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