📌 Join the BPCrew Chapter in your city and meet up with more Yankees fans! 👉 CLICK HERE
Yankees - Cubs
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 20: Starlin Castro #13 of the Chicago Cubs presents Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees with a number 2 from the scoreboard in honor of his final season at Wrigley Field on May 20, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

Starlin Castro says goodbye to Chicago, Hello to New York

Starlin Castro wrote a “thank you” article on the Players’ Tribune today, in which he talked about his time in Chicago and his feelings about being traded to the Yankees. From reading it, you can tell what kind of person Castro is and how he seems to have matured after being called up at a very young age. I’ve taken out my favorite parts below.

The veteran player who helped me most, without question, was Alfonso Soriano. We had a connection from the start because we are both Dominican — but even beyond our roots, Alfonso is the guy who taught me how to act like a professional. I remember during my rookie year, Alfonso taking the time to go with me, walk around to some stores, and help me pick out some new, more professional clothes.

“This,” Alfonso said with a smile. “Is how you dress like a big-leaguer.” It meant a lot to me. Three years later, Alfonso became the godfather to my son.

As for this past season: Getting replaced at shortstop was a struggle for me at first. Change is never easy — especially when it is a change away from something you took pride in. But I also took pride in the fact that I was not going to be one of those players who lost his spot and then brought the team down with him. I knew that I had been taught — by veterans like Alfonso, and other great leaders in the Cubs organization — to be better than that.

Soriano knows what it takes to play with the Yankees, and he also knows what it is like to be traded and change positions. I’m sure Sori will continue to give Castro advice on how to handle New York, and this should give you confidence that Castro will succeed with the Yankees. In our podcast with @IvyEnvy a few weeks ago, we talked about the troubles Castro went through in the first half of 2015, but how he bounced-back and really helped the Cubs make the playoffs in the second half. As Castro wrote, he was not going to bring the team down with him.

And now I want to help the Yankees win. That’s what I’m here to do. When I learned that I was being traded, it was bittersweet. I thought of all of the things that I would miss: from amazing teammates like Anthony Rizzo, to Wrigley and its fans, to all of the ways that Chicago has become my home since I was 20. But I am also at the stage of my career where I just want to win. Period. So, to be traded to a team with a winning tradition like the Yankees — it’s perfect. I couldn’t be happier to be playing in New York.

As fans, all we want from our players is for them to want to win. Hearing it from Castro’s mouth (keyboard) is music to my ears. That’s the reason we loved Jeter, Mariano, Posada, O’Neill, etc. — because winning was top priority.

But my favorite “Welcome to New York” moment probably came when I got a phone call from Reggie Jackson. That’s the sort of call that you dream about as a kid … and it really was a dream come true: Reggie had so much advice and encouragement for me — and said that he was looking forward to working with me in spring training. I think I smiled for the rest of the day after we got off the phone.

Reggie is the best. Getting a phone call from Mr. October, even for a major league baseball player, is still a “holy crap” moment. Castro also mentioned he’s been welcomed with open arms from other Yankees players and fans.

In writing his farewell to Chicago, Castro has officially turned the page. So let me be one of many to say, welcome to New York, Starlin!