Ramon

Castro

Manager Jeff Torborg gambled by going with 11 pitchers in order to carry three catchers, which seems a little odd when one of them is Pudge Rodriguez, who plays so often. Ramon Castro has long been coveted by other teams, and it may be time for the Marlins to move him in order to add another bullpen arm.

Pittsburgh police filed felony charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and unlawful restraint against Castro after an incident in a hotel room last August. Those charges were dropped in the plea agreement after Castro apologized to his wife, family and the victim. “I should have never had any contact with the victim. I apologize to her for any misunderstanding,” Castro said.

This will only be Castro’s second start of the season. Pudge Rodriguez is still limited by a sore right foot, but could see action as a pinch-hitter.

The Marlins are confident the case against Castro will be dropped or a plea deal reached without going to trial. “I’m not worried about that because I didn’t do anything. There won’t be any problems,” the catcher said. Although there remains a chance that the team will acquire another catcher, Castro is likely to start for the Marlins this season.

Mike Redmond has started three of the last four games, and is hitting .400 to Castro’s .214. McKeon said the two catchers will split time equally. Both players can hit and have value in deep NL-only leagues, but not as much as either would have if he were the primary guy.

A major distraction is avoided for this regular season. The World Series, incidentally, begins October 23rd.

Castro can hit, but he remains without value as Florida’s third catcher.

Castro, out because of inflammation in his right big toe, is rehabing at Single-A Jupiter but has yet to play. He’s also in manager Jack McKeon’s doghouse.

''Castro is still walking around saying his toe hurts,’' manager Jack McKeon said. ''We don’t know how long that will be.’' The injured catcher isn’t McKeon’s favorite player.

The Marlins aren’t happy with Castro’s .135 average or the way he took himself out of Tuesday’s game (the one in which his toe was hurt) before consulting manager Jack McKeon. They may try to trade him to a team in need of a backup catcher. Mike Redmond would then become the full-time starter.