To Trade or Not to Trade Starlin Castro, His Value to the Chicago Cubs and Rivals

The biggest debate the Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein and GM Jed Hoyer face this offseason is placing a value on potential tradebait Starlin Castro, both to their team, if they keep him, and what he can bring back in a trade. With the Cubs shifting from rebuilding into the role of World Series contender, is Castro the better fit for them right now than Javier Baez?

Right now, Javier Baez is a question mark, granted. Can he replicate his playoff performance? Has he cut down his strikeouts enough where he can be a viable contributor in a major league line up? Certainly, if you had a choice based on potential, you would pick Baez, based on fielding and power potential but those are only potentials. Castro's disadvantage is that his flaws are well known The jury is out on what Javier Baez will be.

In an article for MLB Trade Rumors, Brad Johnson explored the trade value of Starlin Castro. Johnson's summation, "Castro has looked like two different players throughout his career. In 2013 and 2015, he barely outperformed replacement level. In 2011, 2012, and 2014, he produced three WAR seasons. Overall, he's a slightly below average defender at shortstop with inconsistent offense.Which player is he - the above average shortstop or the replacement level depth guy? He's probably both. Offensively, he's a slightly aggressive hitter with decent but modest pop (10 to 14 home runs in each of the last five seasons). He keeps his strikeouts to a minimum, but he also doesn't walk."

Castro doesn't walk and relies heavily on hitting his way on base. He walked 21 times in 578 plate appearances in 2015, His batting average hasn't seen the upside of .300 since 2011 either.

What value another team puts on Starlin Castro is a question that can only be answered when and if he is traded. His output is so much at opposite ends of the spectrum but that is offset by the fact that he has a relatively team friendly contract - that is, of course, if he plays like all star Starlin Castro.