Vinny Castilla signs with the Braves

[YanksRockMan]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/ce/multi...455_52,00.html
Castilla agrees to deal with Braves
Dec. 8, 2001
By Scott Miller
SportsLine.com Senior Writer

Vinny Castilla, the third baseman who resurrected his career with Houston last summer, has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Atlanta, sources told SportsLine.com on Saturday.

Vinny Castilla brought his career back to life last year with the Astros.(Allsport)

The interesting ripple effect of the deal is that it likely means that All-Star Chipper Jones will move to left field in what will be a newly reconfigured Braves lineup. Terms of Castilla's contract were not yet available.

Castilla, a two-time All Star and three-time Silver Slugger award recipient while with Colorado in the 1990s, was released by Tampa Bay in 2001 after batting just .201 with two homers and nine RBI in 24 games. In 146 games after signing with the Astros, though, Castilla batted .260 with 25 home runs and 91 RBI.

Castilla's bat helped Houston win the NL Central and advance to the playoffs, where they knocked off Atlanta in the first round.

One of the Braves' offseason goals was to improve a lethargic offense that ranked tied for ninth in the NL in 2001. The Castilla signing will be the Braves' first move toward adding a bat this winter (not counting the contract extension of center fielder Andruw Jones). They already re-signed closer John Smoltz last week.

As for Jones, he said at the end of the season that he would move to the outfield if it meant that the Braves could help their offense. With Castilla and the Braves' current alignment, Atlanta's outfield now likely will be Chipper Jones in left, Andruw Jones in center and Brian Jordan in right.

Houston did not offer arbitration to Castilla, so the signing does not cost Atlanta a draft choice.

[Michaels07]

And not the Yankees.