MILWAUKEE — When Cubs manager Joe Maddon told Starlin Castro he’s not about to get traded, it showed the All-Star shortstop’s value is in free fall.
It’s not like Maddon rewrote Castro’s contract — which has four years and $38 million guaranteed after this season — and gave him a no-trade clause. Castro does not have the job security of a Supreme Court justice, especially with Addison Russell playing next to him at second base.
Yes, the Cubs have tried to drum up interest in Castro, but it’s a hard sell when his .574 OPS ranks last among the 22 qualified big-league shortstops and WAR measures him as a negative player offensively and defensively.