Yankees Reaction to Starlin Castro Deal

Heading into the MLB Winter Meetings we knew the Yankees two biggest needs were younger and controllable starting pitching and a definitive answer at second base. The former looked like it would only be obtained via trade and the latter looked like it would be battled out in spring training between Rob Refsnyder and Dustin Ackley.

However, Brian Cashman flipped the switch on Tuesday evening when he traded 28-year old right hander Adam Warren and 33-year old infield utility man Brendan Ryan to the Chicago Cubs for Starlin Castro, who they intend to use at second base in 2016 and beyond.

My first initial reaction was a bit of confusion, as Adam Warren was the only other Yankees pitcher besides Luis Severino who remained under team control beyond 2018. On top of that, I was really looking forward to Adam Warren being stretched out and used as a starter in 2016, but baseball is a business, and in order to get something you need, you need to give up something of value.

Still, the more and more I look at this trade, the more and more I like it for the New York Yankees.

For starters, Starlin Castro finally gives the Yankees the opportunity to have an every day second baseman since Robinson Cano chased the money and signed with the Seattle Mariners in 2013. The days of plugging in washed up veterans and reclamation projects like Brian Roberts and Stephen Drew are officially over!

Sure Castro struggled a bit over the course of the past three seasons since signing his contract extension in 2012, but you also have to factor in that Castro was constantly being juggled around the infield to make room for Addison Russell and Javier Baez. Hopefully being the clear cut second baseman for the Yankees will allow Castro to settle in and thrive in pinstripes.

Second, Castro is a perfect fit for Brian Cashman and his plan to slowly but surely build a younger core in the Bronx. By adding the 25-year old Starlin Castro, the Yankees have plugged in a major league starter who is just entering the prime of his career. Add Castro to the acquisition of Aaron Hicks (26), Didi Gregorius (25) last off-season, and upcoming prospects Gregory Bird (23) and Gary Sanchez (23) and you can see Brian Cashman’s plan actually coming to fruition.

Patience is certainly a virtue, and the Yankees now have a regular starting middle infield as young as Bucky Dent and Willie Randolph – and boy it’s been a long time coming!

Though I still wish the Yankees traded Ivan Nova instead of Adam Warren, Theo Epstein gained a valuable arm in Adam Warren. It’s unclear whether or not the Cubs will use Warren as a starter, but with a rotation that already includes Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey, Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel, it’s likely Warren is headed to the bullpen.

There’s no doubt that following his breakout season in 2015, Adam Warren was the most versatile pitcher in the Yankees organization, but not all hope is lost. Perhaps the trade of Adam Warren opens up the door for someone like Bryan Mitchell or Jacob Lindgren to become regulars in the Yankees rotation or bullpen in 2016.

Giving up Brendan Ryan doesn’t impact the Yankees much. Given Castro’s experience at shortstop, he can easily slide in at shortstop when Didi Gregorius needs an off day while Dustin Ackley can start at second base. If not, the departure of Brendan Ryan opens the door for infield utility man Pete Kozma, who the Yankees signed to a minor league deal over the weekend.

In acquiring Castro, Brian Cashman said it likely means Rob Refsnyder is headed back to Triple-A Scranton, but I’m not sure he’ll be there for long. I personally believe the Rob Refsnyder era in the Bronx is officially over. The Yankees haven’t gauged much interest in Ivan Nova or Brett Gardner in terms of trading them for younger starting pitching and I think Andrew Miller is far too valuable to trade. That said, with Castro now in the fold, Refsnyder is now expendable and I believe the Yankees will dangle him for starting pitching.

I guess time will certainly tell.

What do you think Yankee of the Starlin Castro trade? Let us know in the comments below.

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