Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro exited Tuesday’s game against the National League Central division rival Milwaukee Brewers with an ankle injury.
CSNChicago.com’s Patrick Mooney provided the details on Castro’s condition:
A slide into home was to blame for Castro’s injury, and now the Cubs are without one of their premier young players for the foreseeable future. At least there is hardly any incentive to press Castro back into action, because the Cubs are nowhere near playoff contention.
Holding out Castro to ensure a full recovery is important not only for Chicago, but for the trade partners it may attract this winter. Amid speculation that has swirled about a possible move to the New York Mets, Castro asserts that he’s content in the Windy City, per the New York Daily News‘ Anthony McCarron:
Whatever happens, happens. I can’t control this. I know myself. I know I can be a good player and I know a lot of teams can want me. But I’m here and I don’t want to leave here. I feel comfortable here and I want to be a part of this team when we compete, when we win playoffs and stuff like that.
Rotoworld’s D.J. Short highlighted a couple of qualities that makes Castro attractive to multiple other clubs:
For the Cubs to part ways with such a promising prodigy would go against their long-awaited rebuilding plan under President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein.
Castro has the attitude and production to warrant keeping him in a Cubs uniform for years to come; to contribute to the team’s eventual turnaround. Whether the front office views Castro that way remains to be seen.
Whatever the case may be regarding his long-term future, Chicago will be cautious with Castro for the remainder of the 2014 MLB season in light of the injury he suffered Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
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