Omar Minaya realizes his mistake: To shop Luis Castillo

There couldn't be much better news than this.

Adam Rubin writes:

Luis Castillo signed a four-year, $25 million contract last winter. But the Mets are signaling they intend to shop the second baseman this offseason, even if it means eating some contract.

I know of a few readers who might be moved to tears after reading that. Tears of joy, that is.

The Mets have options at second, and it looks like they're going to move Daniel Murphy there full time. Murphy will play in the Arizona Fall League after the season is over, and is expected to see almost all of his time at second base.

To me, Murphy just doesn't look like a normal second basemen. I'm so used to seeing guys like Roberto Alomar, Kaz Matsui, Damion Easley and Castillo at second. They're smaller and quicker. Murphy is a bit larger, and wouldn't seem to have the same range as the players previously mentioned.

Can't forget Argenis Reyes, who might be the backup at second and short next season.

Either way, if the Mets could find a suitor for Castillo, they better be ready to eat a lot of contract. I can't think of any team that would want the gimpiest player in the league, but if the Mets can get a bag of balls for him, they must pull the trigger.