Feb. 25--MESA, Ariz. -- Starlin Castro has been accustomed to change during his five seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
But one move he has been somewhat reluctant to make involves his family and could affect his future with the Cubs.
Castro said he is looking at homes in Arizona, Tampa and Orlando but has expressed some reservations about moving from his native Dominican Republic, where he was in the vicinity of two shootings at nightclubs last December.
"It's not easy," Castro said Tuesday, one day before the Cubs' first full-squad workout. "All my family is from there. I love being there. I grew up there. I've been a professional there. It's not easy. If it's better for me (to move), I do it.
Castro, 24, made the distinction of where he's safe and where he could be vulnerable in the Dominican.
"I can be in my house," Castro said. "The problems don't come to your house. The problems come when you're in the wrong place. If you stay quiet, be in your home, chill with your family, those problems aren't going to happen.''
As far as his tenure with the Cubs is concerned, Castro believes this is the first time he will be playing for a playoff contender.
He was just as optimistic about playing for Joe Maddon -- his fifth manager in six seasons.
"I think it's going to be a very good experience for us to play with a manager who knows how to win games," said Castro, taking note of the fact that Maddon guided the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs four times despite low payrolls.
"I don't really know him, but everyone that I ask about him, they don't tell me something bad. They just tell me something good."
Castro also revealed that he took major steps this winter to ensure that he will be healthy for the entire season after missing large chunks of spring training the past two seasons because of hamstring injuries. He performed an array of strengthening exercises with strength/conditioning coordinator Tim Buss in Mesa and in the Dominican that included swimming.
"If you don't play in spring training, for sure you have a layoff and it makes a difference in the field," Castro said. "That's the thing, coming early and get my legs ready so those kind of injuries don't happen again.
"We did a lot of things. I can tell you that. We did some things I've never done in my life, and I feel good. I have to do it. I feel tired when I do it. I have to do it to be very strong.''
Although Castro stole a career-low four bases in 2014 after stealing 25 two years earlier, he believes he has the ability to steal 20 bases. He also is confident he can bat .300 after suffering a season-ending ankle injury on Sept. 2 and finishing with a .292 batting average.
"If I don't get hurt in September, I would have hit .300 because I felt very good," said Castro, who was batting .406 during a nine-game hitting streak before injuring his ankle while sliding into home plate. "A lot of players are tired because it was September. Not me, because I felt strong.''
Castro was excited that the Cubs added leadoff batter Dexter Fowler to spark the top of the order. The Cubs also added Miguel Montero, and there's a change Castro could move out of the cleanup spot and perhaps to his former No. 2 spot as Maddon plans to experiment this spring.
"Wherever they try to put me, I'll do my job," Castro said. "If he puts me sixth or seventh, leave me there. I like one spot, and that's it.''
This marks an important season for Castro, who is signed through 2019 and has expressed a preference to stay and become a part of the Cubs' sustained success they've sought since revamping franchise three years ago.
Top shortstop prospect Addison Russell is targeted to start the 2015 season at Triple-A Iowa, and shortstop remains the original position of second baseman Javier Baez.
There's also the case of solidifying the trust of fans who have seen the best of Castro (three National League All-Star selections) and the worst (a mental lapse in August of 2013).
"I think they do (trust me)," Castro said. "I say 'thank you' because some problems happened, and they're still there with me. They trust me. That's one of the things I want.''
Extra innings: Chairman Tom Ricketts and Maddon will address the team prior to their first full squad workout.
Maddon revealed part of his speech on Sunday about the importance of treating each game -- spring training or regular season -- with the same intensity and importance.
"I want us to play the game, whether it's March 15 or July 15 or Oct. 15," Maddon said. "When you build that mindset, when you get to the end of the season when it's a playoff situation, you don't change your game.
"That's the trap that a lot of groups fall into. 'I got to try harder or do more or step up.' I really don't like that phrase 'step up.' I just think that insinuates you haven't been trying prior to that."
Also, you come to play every day, you don't apply any weight to any game, by the time you get to the playoffs, the game feels the same. You do not feel intimidated by that moment."
