Looks like the non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone without any new acquisitions by the Mets. Not yet, anyway. Sometimes a trade or two happens and it's not announced until afterward. In the meantime, here's a reason to feel good about Monday's deal for Luis Castillo. Baseball America just came out with its list of "Best Tools" and Castillo made the cut in the American League. Jose Reyes dominates the NL categories. Check out both lists by clicking on the boldface link below:
Baseball America 2007 Best Tools -- American League
BEST HITTER Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
BEST POWER Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
BEST BUNTER Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT Travis Hafner, Indians
BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST Placido Polanco, Tigers
BEST BASERUNNER Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
FASTEST BASERUNNER Carl Crawford, Devil Rays
MOST EXCITING PLAYER Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
BEST PITCHER Johan Santana, Twins
BEST FASTBALL Justin Verlander, Tigers
BEST CURVEBALL Josh Beckett, Red Sox
BEST SLIDER Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers
BEST CHANGEUP Johan Santana, Twins
BEST CONTROL Paul Byrd, Indians
BEST PICKOFF MOVE Andy Pettitte, Yankees
BEST RELIEVER Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox
BEST DEFENSIVE CATCHER Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers
BEST DEFENSIVE FIRST BASEMAN Mark Teixeira, Rangers
BEST DEFENSIVE SECOND BASEMAN Luis Castillo, Twins
BEST DEFENSIVE THIRD BASEMAN Eric Chavez, Athletics
BEST DEFENSIVE SHORTSTOP Derek Jeter, Yankees
BEST INFIELD ARM Adrian Beltre, Mariners
BEST DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
BEST OUTFIELD ARM Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners
BEST MANAGER Jim Leyland, Tigers
Baseball America 2007 Best Tools -- National League
BEST HITTER Matt Holliday, Rockies
BEST POWER Prince Fielder, Brewers
BEST BUNTER Juan Pierre, Dodgers
BEST STRIKE-ZONE JUDGMENT Barry Bonds, Giants
BEST HIT-AND-RUN ARTIST Paul Lo Duca, Mets
BEST BASERUNNER Jose Reyes, Mets
FASTEST BASERUNNER Jose Reyes, Mets
MOST EXCITING PLAYER Jose Reyes, Mets
BEST PITCHER Jake Peavy, Padres
BEST FASTBALL Billy Wagner, Mets
BEST CURVEBALL Ben Sheets, Brewers
BEST SLIDER John Smoltz, Braves
BEST CHANGEUP Trevor Hoffman, Padres
BEST CONTROL Greg Maddux, Padres
BEST PICKOFF MOVE Chris Capuano, Brewers
BEST RELIEVER Trevor Hoffman, Padres
BEST DEFENSIVE CATCHER Russell Martin, Dodgers
BEST DEFENSIVE FIRST BASEMAN Derrek Lee, Cubs
BEST DEFENSIVE SECOND BASEMAN Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks
BEST DEFENSIVE THIRD BASEMAN Scott Rolen, Cardinals
BEST DEFENSIVE SHORTSTOP Jose Reyes, Mets
BEST INFIELD ARM Jose Reyes, Mets
BEST DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER Andruw Jones, Braves
BEST OUTFIELD ARM Jeff Francoeur, Braves
BEST MANAGER Bobby Cox, Braves