Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is reporting that the Cubs are telling teams shortstop Starlin Castro is not available via trade. There had been some thought that they would at least broach the idea with teams such as the Mets and Yankees (prior to the Didi Gregorius trade), but their preference is to keep him for now.
Castro, 24, had a productive year at the plate for the Cubs, batting .292/.339/.438 and figures to be a key contributor as the club attempts to escape the cellar in the NL Central. The Cubs have finished in fifth place in five consecutive seasons, which was good for last place in the last two.
Castro inked a seven-year, $60 million extension with the Cubs in August 2012 and still has $44 million remaining through 2019.
