Cubs infielder Starlin Castroentered Tuesday night's game at second base in the top of the sixth inning and could start there this weekend,while his agent says an eventual "change of scenery" could be "good for everybody."
"It would crush him to leave Chicago," agent Paul Kinzer said Tuesday afternoon. "He loves it here."
The three-time All-Star took over for Chris Coghlan in Tuesday's game in his first career MLB game at second.
Castro took grounders at second base before batting practice Tuesday, and manager Joe Maddon indicated that would be his main position going forward. Castro was benched over the weekend after a prolonged slump during which his batting average dropped to .236 and his on-base percentage to .271.
"I'm eager to see Starlin at second base," Maddon said before the Cubs played the Milwaukee Brewers.
Castro doesn't think it will be a problem moving over from shortstop, where he has been a mainstay for the Cubs for more than five seasons.
"I don't mind," Castro said. "I just want to play. No matter where they want to put me, I want to play."
Castro has had a team-first approach since losing his starting job, something Maddon has appreciated about the situation.
"That's his mentality," Kinzer said. "I wish people in Chicago knew him.
"There's nothing phony about him. Does he want to play every day? Yeah. But is he trashing anybody? No. He's not disrupting the team in any way."
Kinzer's visit to Chicago wasn't planned. He came to town to support Castro during the roughest time of his career. The agent is as baffled as anyone by Castro's slump, especially after a hot start to the season. Castro hit .325 in April.
"This is the same kid a couple years ago who had 207 hits," Kinzer said. "He showed it April. Not sure where he got off track.
"Sometimes a change of scenery is good for everybody."
Kinzer wasn't making any demands, just openly wondering where it has gone wrong for Castro. Maddon hopes he can find his groove again, but Addison Russell is the Cubs' shortstop now and for the future.
"Addy looks like the guy everyone thought he would be," Maddon said. "[Prospect Javier Baez] is still getting his way back here. And Starlin, we're trying to get him back on his feet."
Castro hasn't played since Thursday, as Maddon wants to hold him back in case the Cubs need his bat late in a game. Utility man Jonathan Herrera has been used as a defensive replacement at second base while Russell has become the fixture at shortstop.
"Four games [sitting] is tough," Kinzer said as Castro sat again Tuesday against the Brewers. "He's used to being such a big part of everything."
Castro is trying to take it all in stride as he struggles through the toughest times of his Cubs career. He is owed more than $40 million through 2019.
"I think I can be good," Castro said. "I think I can play. ... We don't think about me, we think about us. It's the team now."
"It would crush him to leave Chicago," agent Paul Kinzer said Tuesday afternoon. "He loves it here."
The three-time All-Star took over for Chris Coghlan in Tuesday's game in his first career MLB game at second.
Castro took grounders at second base before batting practice Tuesday, and manager Joe Maddon indicated that would be his main position going forward. Castro was benched over the weekend after a prolonged slump during which his batting average dropped to .236 and his on-base percentage to .271.
"I'm eager to see Starlin at second base," Maddon said before the Cubs played the Milwaukee Brewers.
Castro doesn't think it will be a problem moving over from shortstop, where he has been a mainstay for the Cubs for more than five seasons.
"I don't mind," Castro said. "I just want to play. No matter where they want to put me, I want to play."
Castro has had a team-first approach since losing his starting job, something Maddon has appreciated about the situation.
"That's his mentality," Kinzer said. "I wish people in Chicago knew him.
"There's nothing phony about him. Does he want to play every day? Yeah. But is he trashing anybody? No. He's not disrupting the team in any way."
Kinzer's visit to Chicago wasn't planned. He came to town to support Castro during the roughest time of his career. The agent is as baffled as anyone by Castro's slump, especially after a hot start to the season. Castro hit .325 in April.
"This is the same kid a couple years ago who had 207 hits," Kinzer said. "He showed it April. Not sure where he got off track.
"Sometimes a change of scenery is good for everybody."
Kinzer wasn't making any demands, just openly wondering where it has gone wrong for Castro. Maddon hopes he can find his groove again, but Addison Russell is the Cubs' shortstop now and for the future.
"Addy looks like the guy everyone thought he would be," Maddon said. "[Prospect Javier Baez] is still getting his way back here. And Starlin, we're trying to get him back on his feet."
Castro hasn't played since Thursday, as Maddon wants to hold him back in case the Cubs need his bat late in a game. Utility man Jonathan Herrera has been used as a defensive replacement at second base while Russell has become the fixture at shortstop.
"Four games [sitting] is tough," Kinzer said as Castro sat again Tuesday against the Brewers. "He's used to being such a big part of everything."
Castro is trying to take it all in stride as he struggles through the toughest times of his Cubs career. He is owed more than $40 million through 2019.
"I think I can be good," Castro said. "I think I can play. ... We don't think about me, we think about us. It's the team now."
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