Starlin Castro has been used to hitting at the top of the lineup for the majority of his young career. In the early portion of his career when the Cubs were struggling to produce on the offensive side, he was relied heavily on to produce, along with then-teammate Anthony Rizzo. The good news now for Castro is he will not be one of the only focal points of the Yankees offensive attack. He will be a cog in a lineup that has its fair share of star power. The Yanks offensive attack drove in the second most runs in MLB last year with 764, and Castro will be able to add more production.
The lineup last year consisted of Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner hitting one and two respectively, acting as the teams table setters. Castro was used at the top of the order with the Cubs for a significant time, but with those two back and healthy for the 2016 season, it appears likely Castro will be near the bottom half of the order, giving him the opportunity to work his way up the order if the three-time all-star can produce at a high level.
With the Yankees likely standing pat for the remainder of free-agency and adding another significant name to the lineup, Castro will play second base and provide flexibility in the batter order, bringing experience at the top and bottom of the lineup.
“I think you wait and see how things kind of pan out the rest of the offseason before you start thinking about where you’re going to hit people, but I think [Castro] gives you a lot of flexibility,” Girardi said (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com).
The 25-year-old infielder batted .265 a season ago with 11 homeruns and drove in 69. His on-base percentage was bellow .300, standing at .296 in 151 games played in 2015. The Yankees know the ability Castro presents, and are counting on the player who hit .345 with six homers and 25 RBIs in 50 games to end the season to show up to the Bronx ready to mash.
With the Cubs last year, he was used mostly in the fifth or sixth spot of the order, appearing just one time in the eighth slot.
GM Brian Cashman loves the idea of having Castro in the order, calling him a “contact-oriented guy who puts balls in play, he’s got some pop.”
The new acquisition doesn’t have to hit fourth to be effective, allowing him to hit near the bottom of the order and provide punch to allow the top of the order to be more effective.
Castro has already become a fan favorite in the Bronx, and with Spring Training and the heels of spring on its way, the Bronx Bombers are excited to see what is in store for them this season, including the free-swinging Castro.
