Castro catches up with old Yanks teammates

Bour resting due to back spasms; Turner, Alcantara competing for rotation spot

March 11th, 2018

JUPITER, Fla. -- Marlins second baseman faced his former team on Sunday afternoon, but on Saturday night, the four-time All-Star caught up with several of his ex-Yankee teammates.
Castro went to dinner, and said he picked up the check, for four young Yankees players -- , , and . In the Marlins' 7-5 win over New York at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Castro went 1-for-3 with a triple.
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The Marlins acquired Castro from New York in December in the trade.
Initially, Castro was upset to be dealt and not sure he fit into the Marlins' plans. Since then, the 27-year-old has accepted his role on a young Miami club.
"It was kind of tough in the beginning," Castro said when asked about being traded. "It was pretty tough for me. I think the last two years I spent with the Yankees, it was a really good experience, a really good thing. They're a really good team, a winning team, with a lot of good guys on it.

"When I got traded, it was really sad for me, but after that, that's one of the things we can't control. I can't control those trades. I know it's a business. We're here today; tomorrow, we don't know where we are going to be."
With the Marlins, Castro is helping mentor a young club, and he's expected to hit in the No. 3 spot.
"I feel good now," Castro said. "That's nothing new for me, being on a team that's growing up. That happened to me in Chicago. It's the same thing, a lot of young guys, a lot of talent. It's good for me to be with the young guys and teach them to be a big leaguer, to play hard and respect the game."

Injury update
As a precaution, was out of the lineup for the second straight day on Sunday. The left-handed-hitting first baseman was scratched from the lineup on Saturday due to back spasms, and the team is playing it safe. The Marlins have an off-day on Monday, so the thinking is to give him three full days to recover.
"I'm ready to play," Bour said. "If it's the season, I'm probably in there."
The Marlins open the season on March 29 against the Cubs at Marlins Park, so there is plenty of time for Bour to get ready.
"Yesterday was a little bit stiff," Bour said. "I let them know. We're fortunate where we're able to be a little more precautionary and take care of things."
Bour took batting practice on Saturday before telling the trainers he didn't feel right.
"He doesn't feel 100 percent today," manager Don Mattingly said. "With the off-day, there's no use taking chances."
Mattingly made it clear that after Monday's day off, he'd like for the regulars to get more playing time.
"I'd like to be able to get my guys playing, more at-bats," Mattingly said. "I'd rather do this now and get regular at-bats as we get to the season."
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Position battles
Two rotation candidates took the mound on Sunday, with and prospect each throwing four innings.
Turner, a non-roster invitee, is competing for one of three rotation spots, but the 26-year-old also could fit into a long-relief or spot-start role. Against New York, the right-hander gave up two runs (one earned) and was credited with the win.
Alcantara, ranked by MLB Pipeline as Miami's No. 3 prospect, dealt with some adversity in his four innings, but he logged the save. Alcantara gave up three runs (two earned), walked one and struck out three. He also allowed two home runs, including one to , who clanked it off the Marlins' office building well beyond the wall in left field.
There were some questions coming into camp, because Alcantara has pitched just 8 1/3 innings in the big leagues and is only 22 years old. If he shows any signs that he isn't ready, the hard-throwing right-hander could open the season at Triple-A New Orleans.
"Jacob was good," Mattingly said. "Obviously, the ground balls early. ... With Sandy, I liked it, because it seemed a little rough early and then he throws two scoreless late."
On the home run to Judge, Alcantara said, "I made mistakes in my early innings, and that cost me. I was trying to attack the zone with strikes. I was throwing a sinker to Judge, and he put a shot on the ball. My sinker wasn't, obviously, dropping the way I wanted to. It was a shot to the second floor."
Up next
The Marlins are off on Monday, but they return to action on Tuesday against the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. In the 1:05 p.m. ET contest on Gameday Audio, -- already named Miami's Opening Day starter -- will get the nod. is throwing for St. Louis. Most of the regulars are expected to play, and the club is hopeful that Bour will be good to go.