Sources: Mets, Castillo reach agreement

Sources: Mets, Castillo reach agreement
Ken Rosenthal
FOXSports.com, Updated 11 hours ago

The Mets, overcoming stiff competition, reached a preliminary agreement Sunday night on a $25 million, four-year contract with Luis Castillo.

The deal, the Mets' first major move of the off-season, will resolve the team's opening at second base at a time when they are unsettled at catcher and have now lost left-hander Tom Glavine to the Braves.

The Associated Press also reported Sunday night that the two sides had reached a preliminary agreement on a multiyear contract

The Astros, Nationals and Cubs all had expressed interest in Castillo, whom the Mets acquired from the Twins for two minor leaguers last July 30.

Mets officials last week met with free-agent shortstop David Eckstein, who played second base in the minors with the Red Sox's organization. But Castillo, 32, was their first choice.

A four-year contract for Castillo amounts to a risk, considering that he has battled leg problems over the past several seasons. But when healthy, Castillo is a dynamic top-of-the-order presence.

The Mets are not oblivious to medical concerns — they ended negotiations with free-agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba over the weekend, apparently because of questions about the condition of his right shoulder.

The Rockies are considering re-signing Torrealba to a two-year deal. The Mets likely will revisit other options at catcher, including a possible trade for the Orioles' Ramon Hernandez and Rangers' Gerald Laird.

Castillo had a .296 batting average and .371 on-base percentage in 50 games with the Mets last season. A three-time All-Star, he began his career with the Marlins before getting traded to the Twins after the 2005 season and the Mets last summer.

Castillo's preliminary agreement came of the same day that two-time Cy Young Award winner Glavine decided to leave the Mets and return to the Atlanta Braves, his original team. Glavine was given an $8 million, one-year contract after turning down a $13 million option to stay with New York and receiving a $3 million buyout.