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New lease on life Astros bring in Castilla to take over at third for Truby
Updated: Tuesday May 15, 2001 8:27 PM
CHICAGO (AP) -- Vinny Castilla's choice came down to playing time. Castilla, released by Tampa Bay last week, chose Houston over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Astros. He was in the lineup for Houston's game Tuesday night against, of all teams, the Cubs. "It's the best situation for me. They want me to play every day at third base," Castilla said before the game. "(The Cubs) didn't want me as an everyday player. "It was a tough situation because I played with (Cubs manager Don Baylor) for several years in Colorado and I love him," Castilla added. "He's a great person and a great manager. But at this point in my career, I have to go with what's best for me and I think the Astros give me the best situation." Castilla replaces rookie Chris Truby, who took over the starting third base job this season but has struggled offensively. Truby hit .217 with seven homers and 22 RBIs in 34 games, but he also struck out 33 times. Houston will pay Castilla $153,005 -- a prorated share of the $200,000 minimum -- with Tampa Bay responsible for the rest of his $7 million salary in the final season of a $24 million, four-year contract. "This is an opportunity for us to acquire a player that was one of the top run producers in the National League for five years," general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "It just seemed like a situation for us to acquire a player that has that kind of ability for very little risk." Castilla, 33, was hitting .215 with two homers and nine RBIs in 93 at-bats before Tampa Bay waived him last week. He was on the disabled list three times last season. But from 1995 to 1999, Castilla hit 30-plus homers per season for Colorado. "Knowing the player, he needed to play," Baylor said. "That's why he wanted out of Tampa, because he wasn't playing." Baylor made no secret of his interest in Castilla, talking to the infielder and his agent after he was released last week. But Baylor didn't have a spot for Castilla until Sunday, when Bill Mueller broke his kneecap while chasing after a foul ball in St. Louis. By that time, the Astros and Castilla were well along in their talks. "I think our interest was appropriate for the time," said Andy MacPhail, the Cubs' president and general manager. "My interest prior to Bill getting hurt was if we were going to do something in this area, I wanted someone more versatile, who could play different positions, contribute to the ballclub in different ways," MacPhail said. "I don't want us to be tied down to a player who could only offer one tool." But getting Castilla makes sense for the Astros. Though telling Truby he was being sent down was one of the toughest things he's had to do, manager Larry Dierker said they had nothing to do by signing Castilla. Truby was sent to Class-AAA New Orleans. "There's nothing wrong with Chris Truby," Dierker said. "In the end, the overwhelming aspect of doing it or not doing it was, what do we have to lose? We still have Truby. And we didn't have to spend a lot."
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