Nick Piecoro at AZCentral.com reports that there’s nothing new on the Chris Snyder front, but I wanted to discuss it a little further.
I mentioned Luis Castillo in my post yesterday, but I was mostly kidding (hence the reference to fingers and toes being crossed, and the rare use of the double question mark). But when Mets fans consider their favorite team taking on another team’s unwanted salary, they instinctively hope Castillo can somehow be pawned off in the deal.
But though the money and years owed to Castillo and Snyder are actually quite similar — Castillo is owed $12 million through 2011 and Snyder $10.5 plus a $750,000 buyout, so $11.25 million total — there’s a huge, huge difference in their contracts. It’s this:
If Snyder is healthy and playing the way he did in 2007 and 2008, he is a bargain at that rate. If Castillo is healthy and playing the way he did in 2009, he is still overpaid.
So think about it this way: Snyder, especially to a team without a catcher, offers a ton of upside, despite the injury-related risk. Castillo, to the Diamondbacks, offers the possibility he’ll play like Luis Castillo. And lest we forget, he still brings a fair share of injury-related risk, too.
Plus, if the Diamondbacks believe Snyder will return to full strength after back surgery, it could behoove them to hold off on trading him and wait to see if Miguel Montero continues his success. Then, if he does, Snyder could be dealt during the season, once he’s proven his health and his value has risen.
Also, it would seem strange for Arizona to deal Snyder, presumably to free up payroll, only to take on more payroll in Castillo. Plus they’ve already added one shaky-fielding second baseman this offseason in Kelly Johnson.
Piecoro offers a great rundown of the Diamondbacks’ potential motivation to trade or not trade Snyder, and I recommend reading it. It’s always important to keep in mind that two teams need to sign off on deals. I forget too often myself.
Tedquarters 
I propose we get together a bunch of fans and pool the money we’re not spending on season tickets together to buy out Luis Castillo’s remaining contract from the Mets. Everyone seems to want him gone, and we’d be paying for his contract with the tickets anyway, so two birds with one stone, right? Plus since we’d own his contract, we could each have Luis Castillo work for us for a day, have him do some chores around the house, make him play wiffleball, stuff like that. Anyone else want in on this?
I’m in, but the Mets would probably want a prospect in return.
I’ve got a some baseball cards in my closet. Does that work instead? Do you know the number for Omar’s pager?
I’m a prospect. I play second base for my pick-up softball team and I can’t go to my left. My hitting probably leaves something to be desired, but I also work for cheap. They can pay me the minimum, it’s cool.
The way people talk about Castillo, you’d think he’s a .220 hitter. He deserves far more respect. He manages to be a .290-.300 hitter, high on base guy despite having less field in which to place the hit.
That’s fair. His OBP alone makes him a decent offensive player, even if he has no power. Plus he’s a smart enough baserunner to add a few runs there. It’s his defense that’s the problem, IMO.
We give the Dbacks Castillo and Perez, we get Snyder and Webb, sign Sheets and Garland and Omar gets fired for doing a good thing for once. What a dream that would be. Did you know that the nike dri fit Mets hats I have can not be flushed down the toilet. I’ve tried so many times. Deep thoughts by Ric.
I don’t know, do you think they could throw in Stephen Drew and a couple of prospects?