Recruits Seen

Every team has new members each season, and two of the 'recruits' seen in Cubs camp are about as opposite as could be. Carlos Silva was a solid pitcher three or four years ago in Minnesota, then signed a big contract with Seattle and was not the same player. The Cubs took him in exchange for one of their problems, Milton Bradley, and are willing to endure a non-productive player just to be shed of Bradley. But other than his first outing, Silva has looked capable of being a decent starter or a helpful bullpen pitcher. Fingers crossed, we wait and see.
At the other end of the spectrum, shortstop Starlin Castro was in minor league camp last year and was not attracting all that much attention. But he skyrocketed up three notches last season, helped Tennessee in the playoffs, and starred in the Arizona Fall League. Although he has been sent to the Smokies again at the AA level, he seems on a fast track to Chicago. I assume we will see him around Labor Day and he might be a major leaguer for 2011.