Dec. 07--It took nearly a month for Starlin Castro to accept his demotion and eventually regain his effectiveness after a move from shortstop to second base.
But a change that had been encouraged by President Theo Epstein last January in the wake of two shootings in Castro's native Dominican Republic has taken place.
Castro is spending this offseason in the Tampa area and might purchase a home in the future, according to agent Paul Kinzer.
"He's working out five days a week," Kinzer said Monday at the winter meetings. "He's going to be in the best shape of his career. So mentally, he's going to take it to a different level."
After Castro was in the vicinity of two shootings in Monte Cristi nightclubs last winter, the Cubs player heeded Epstein's words and moved to the Tampa area and get a head start on the 2016 season as the Cubs' second baseman.
"It just made sense and it helps him, training-wise," Kinzer said. "The weather is good, and he can still get his work in. He's happy right now. He's in a good place."
After losing his starting shortstop job on Aug. 7 because of poor defense and a lack of clutch hitting, Castro rebounded after his eventual move to second and batted a National League-high .369 in September and October.
"He feels like he's still part of the team," Kinzer said. "For a while last year, he kind of lost that, but he kept a great attitude. How many people could have handled what he did last year. It was unbelievable the way he handled it."
