The Red Sox made it official yesterday by announcing the signing of Cuban defector
Rusney Castillo to a 7-year, $72.5 million contract. The speedy 27-year old OF has put on 20 pounds of muscle over the last year and projects to be a top-of-the-order speedster who hits for average and
some power. Essentially, he is the
Jacoby Ellsbury replacement. Said GM
Ben Cherington,
"He's got a great combination of skills, defensive ability, speed, solid power. He's got a really strong track record in Cuba. We're excited to add him to the organization, and we feel he can be a part of winning Red Sox teams here for a long time." Castillo will wear #38 (
Curt Schilling's old number).
