Starlin is a Marlin: Castro over trade shock

JUPITER, FLA. » Miami second baseman Starlin Castro says he’s over the initial shock and disappointment he felt upon learning in December that he’d been traded from the contending New York Yankees to the rebuilding Marlins.

“It’s kind of tough because I’d been there two years,” Castro said. “We had a good team over there. We made the playoffs last year. When they made the trade, I felt a little upset.”

At a price tag of $10.86 million for 2018, he is the second-highest paid Marlins player and still could be traded at any point to further cut costs. Whether that happens or not, he’s set to play for Miami.

“I feel good now,” said Castro, a couple of hours before his new team faced his old squad for the first time this spring.

The 27-year old is keeping his Yankees ties alive.

Some Yankees elected to make the drive across the state from Tampa on Saturday night. Castro took Gary Sanchez, Miguel Andujar, Gleyber Torres and Estevan Florial to dinner.

“I feel really happy to see those guys and play against them,” Castro said. “It’s going to be fun.”

A .282 hitter over eight seasons whose next home run with be No. 100 in his career, Castro batted third against New York in a 7-5 win Sunday.

The four-time All-Star hit a triple off the center field wall off Jordan Montgomery in his first at-bat, part of a 1-for-3 afternoon.

Miami manager Don Mattingly intends to keep Castro in the No. 3 spot once the regular season begins, a role filled last year by the center fielder Miami traded to Milwaukee, Christian Yelich.

“We think he’s a guy a lot like Christian from the standpoint of, this is a guy who can really hit,” Mattingly said. “Hits both sides, right and left, and is just going to get his hits. If there’s men on base, he’s going to drive in runs. Not a 30-home run guy, probably, but a guy who will hit 15 to 20 and can get his hits.”

Castro became a Marlin in five-player trade that sent slugger Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees.