The Rangers receive starting pitcher Dan Haigwood in the swap. Castro is expected to join the Phillies bullpen on Saturday.
The 5-7 Dominican becomes the first Phillies acquisition this season to earn the infamous “_____ is someone we've had our eye on,” treatment in an official Phillies news release. The last time a statement like that was made was last June when Tim Worrell was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Matt Kata, whom scouts “liked for quite some time.”
Phillies scouts, who’ve been camped out at Texas Rangers games since spring training, witnessed a 21-year-old strikeout pitcher who went 0-0 with a 4.32 ERA in four appearances with Texas this season. Opponents batted .200 against him, though he issued seven walks in eight innings.
Last year in Class-A, Castro went 5-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 79 innings. He's had solid numbers throughout his minor league career, almost exclusively as a reliever.
Castro was selected by Kansas City in December's Rule 5 Draft from the Chicago White Sox and was traded to Texas. He began the season with Texas but became available after he was designated for assignment.
The Phillies bit and sent Haigwood packing the day he was named to the Eastern League All-Star Game. Haigwood, 22, is a former 18th-round draft pick and was acquired by the White Sox in the November trade for Jim Thome. The junkball left-hander had 85 strikeouts in 84 innings.
rather than go out and get a proven pitcher way to go we deal for a midgit 22 yr old! Good job Stand Pat! Great move, don't worry we traded away Elizardo Ramirez a few years back because he was too frail now look at him - he's an above average pitcher. So now we have an even smaller verizon of him. It always make sense to trade away a young 22 yr old lefty for a midgit!
Posted by: I'm excited are you? | Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 06:49 PM
this move is stupid!!! haigwood is a prospect, and should be given a chance to grow within the phillies system. trading him for a relief pitcher, and an unproven one at that, is just stupid!!! i really hate the phillies brass sometimes!
Posted by: Drama Queen | Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 07:04 PM
I totally fail to see the upside of this deal. I saw Haigwood pitch at Reading and was impressed with him. I can't believe they basically 'gave' him away.
Posted by: theragtopguy | Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 08:02 PM
As I wrote over at my place, I think time will tell on this one.
Posted by: Tom G | Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 10:11 PM
5-7? He was 5-8 back in December 2005, according to an article quoted in the thread before this one. If he's shrinking at the rate of an inch every six months, or 2 inches a year, in a few years he'll make a great pinch hitter a la Eddie Gaedel.
If he's shrinking at the rate of 1 inch per blog post, he'll be ready for that pinch hit duty by the all-star break.
And speaking of all-stars, does every minor league player get named to the all-star teams, or is it just the ones the Phillies don't want?
Posted by: Nat | Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 11:44 PM
I agree with theragtopguy. I have seen Haigwood pitch several times in Reading and he was good. His walk to strikeout ratio is good. You have to realize his record isn't the best but that is only because Reading has no run support. Until they cleaned house a few weeks ago almost everyone on the team was batting under .200.
I definitely don't think Haigwood was going to be on the Phillies by the end of the year but he would be at AAA and they would be able to pull him up next year. At this point you would think they would be looking at next year anyway. (Sad thing is the Phillies are always looking for next year.)
Posted by: GoSportsCards | Friday, June 30, 2006 at 08:55 AM
I'm amazed at this deal. At the very least, use Haigwood with Abreu or Burrell to get a real pitcher.
Posted by: Ed | Friday, June 30, 2006 at 01:44 PM
I totally agree. I don't think they should have traded him but if they had to trade him it should have been in a package deal to get a proven pitcher. Not one more guy to add to the roster that we dont know much about and a guy that we are all going to be praying does something. Why get a guy that is on the fence. If he does good everyones gonna say well maybe hes good. If he does bad they will say yah well I didn't expect much out of him anyway. I'm really tired of biting all of my nails off praying for the next scrub to be the savior.
I'm beginning to think the Phillies should adopt Rob Schneiders Quote in The WaterBoy. http://www.moviesoundscentral.com/sounds/waterboy/suck.wav
Posted by: GoSportsCards | Friday, June 30, 2006 at 05:47 PM
I'm really close to the Haigwood situation and I CAN NOT find a reason for this trade. Philly need starters at every level and instead pick up a 5'7" tool. This is why ya'll are bad every year.
Posted by: Goodlookingstud22 | Wednesday, July 05, 2006 at 11:46 PM
How do you get to the conclusion that Haigwood is a "junkballer"????
Posted by: Goodlookingstud22 | Wednesday, July 05, 2006 at 11:49 PM
recently saw a kid from toms river n.j.
that throws real hard,clocked in the 90's
bats right and left,good speed.hit homers to lead the league.if you talk to other players and coaches they all no him..
his name is paul rosario//another david right.i just think clubs around the metro area should be looking alittle closer.i believe he will be playing for brookdale community college this year.
Posted by: hank nelson | Friday, August 17, 2007 at 05:23 PM