Nobody expected it to take very long for deposed second baseman Luis Castillo to find work. The mere fact that the New York Mets – who released him last Friday – will pick up the tab for whichever team asks for his services suggested that. That theory was proven correct on Monday when the Philadelphia Phillies signed Castillo to a 10-day contract. They were also very clear in informing Castillo that this was a trial contract. If he doesn’t prove himself good enough in that time frame, they’ll release him outright.

The Phillies were expected to be in on Castillo immediately, looking to him as an insurance policy for Chase Utley who is recovering from a right knee injury. If Utley can’t perform to his All-Star capabilities, the Phillies will need to replace him. Charlie Manuel has seen a lot of Castillo over the years, managing his Phillies against him during his stints in both New York and Florida, so he knows what the veteran second baseman is capable of. Whether he can translate those abilities back to a winning franchise is what Manuel will be looking for.

Castillo doesn’t have a high ceiling as far as what he can provide goes, but in a backup or insurance role, he might be exactly what the Phillies need. He’s definitely not a lock to get a roster spot, but his acquisition may be indicative that Utley’s situation isn’t as good as people hoped it would be by this point. If it’s not, you have to wonder if the Phillies have any other options if Castillo doesn’t work out.

Castillo had better take this shot seriously. At 35 years of age, he doesn’t have much left to offer a to a team, and if the Phillies do cut ties with him after his tryout, few others will look kindly on the fact that he was cut from two teams in as many weeks. Sure, he may yet find another suitor, but only for as long as that suitor doesn’t have to pay his bills. This test with the Phillies is only going to be the first of many for Castillo over the 2011 season.