Castillo is pretty much a stopgap for the time being. He hasn’t been a complete disaster, but he’s definitely not the answer at third base. I’ll have to say though that I haven’t complained too much about him lately.

Castillo has been pretty solid considering what he was, a trash heap pickup. I think Castillo’s value in the league moving forward is as a very valuable bench player due to his ability to play most of the infield positions.

in fact, if they could trade him this year i’d hope they would. the problem is that he doesn’t have value by himself—-so i think, actually i hope, Sabean thinks outside the box of straight up trades for some kind of package deal.

with his cheap price tag, I think Castillo might get a chance to play everyday for the Giants in 2009. A day at third. A day at second. 4 days as pinch hitter and double switch guy.

He hasn’t got the offense or the defense to really hold onto the starting job at 3rd or 2nd in the face of a strong candidate – even one as strong as what I think Fransden could do (if healthy)- 285/345/400. On the other hand he is probably in his peak years from now to 2010, I think he could do better than he has – especially if less double play balls come off his bat, and he continues to improve at defensively at third base. It has been awhile since any Castillo hate threads have popped up. Probably partly his performance and partly our acceptance as fans of his level of output. We’ve got used to him.

If he can’t stay a starter, I think his approach at the plate could do well as a pitch hitter. He’s willing to go with the pitcher’s pitches and use the opposite field. He might excel as a late inning pinch hitter, especially when there is no one on, eliminating the chance of a double play.

I don’t really know who would trade for Castillo. Doesn’t anyone want Durham? That would clear room for the position battle royal that should be underway, between Castillo, Denker, Burriss and Velez if he continues to hit well in AAA. It would be great if one did actually stick as a cheap and decent-to-good starter for the next couple of years. I think Castillo as a double DFA still has depressed value around the league.

. . .and he’s young enough that he may improve. Remember, he’s younger than Fred Lewis!

I don’t really have any problem with the way the Giants have been using him, essentially as Bowker’s platoon partner. I wouldn’t rule him out for next year, but I think he’s a stopgap until he proves otherwise.

Every time I think he’s making progress on defense he makes me regret my faith in him.