Colorado Rockies Sign Infielder Willi Castro to Two-Year Deal

The Colorado Rockies just grabbed another veteran for their roster, locking in a two-year, $12.8 million deal with utility man Willi Castro. It’s a move that shows Colorado’s still trying to steady the ship after a brutal season, hoping to buy time while their younger guys get ready.

Rockies Take a Low-Risk Bet on Versatility

Castro turns 29 in April and has built a reputation as one of the more dependable, flexible players in the league lately. His last run with the Chicago Cubs didn’t end well, but Colorado seems to believe his overall track record—especially what he did with the Minnesota Twins—tells a better story.

Coming off a jaw-dropping 119-loss season, the Rockies clearly value flexibility and competence just as much as star power. No one in Denver thinks this one signing changes everything, but it does add a bit of stability to a roster that’s still searching for answers.

Castro’s Revival in Minnesota

Between 2023 and 2024, Castro quietly rebuilt his value with the Twins. He put up 2.5 and 2.9 fWAR in those years, which is honestly pretty solid for a utility guy.

He also managed decent walk rates and a combined wRC+ that hovered around league average or a touch better. Maybe more importantly, Castro showed he could play almost anywhere—every position except catcher and first base. That kind of flexibility gives managers options they usually don’t have.

The Cubs Collapse Raises Questions

Eventually, Minnesota traded Castro to the Cubs at the 2025 deadline, hoping to cash in while his value was high. But things went south fast.

A Brutal 110-Plate Appearance Stretch

With Chicago, Castro hit just .170/.245/.240 over 110 plate appearances, which works out to a 40 wRC+. Was it fatigue, a mechanical issue, or just a bad cold streak? Hard to say, but it tanked his market value in a hurry.

Still, the Rockies seem ready to shrug off that rough stretch. They’re treating it as a blip, not a red flag.

How Castro Fits in Colorado

Colorado’s been signing veteran utility guys more lately, with pretty mixed results. Past moves like Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer have taught them a few lessons—some good, some not so much.

Competition with the Kids

Exactly how Castro fits in depends a lot on how the Rockies’ young players develop. They’re watching a long list of prospects, including:

If a few of those guys really break out, Castro probably shifts into a classic utility spot. If not, he’ll likely see more regular time all over the field.

A Trade Chip Waiting to Happen?

Given where the Rockies are right now, there’s another angle to this signing. If Castro bounces back to his Twins form, Colorado could flip him at the trade deadline for prospects.

Honestly, that feels like the smart play for a team that’s still a ways from contending. Gotta squeeze value out of every piece you can.

Payroll and What Comes Next

RosterResource estimates the Rockies’ payroll at about $110 million, assuming Castro’s deal gets prorated. The team has a full 40-man roster right now, so they’ll need to make a move before finalizing the contract.

Colorado might not be finished this winter. There’s still talk they could look for rotation depth or bullpen help as they try to add some stability and maybe a little upside to the roster.

Willi Castro looks like a sensible, low-risk addition. He’s not a savior, but he could turn out to be a useful piece in this long rebuilding puzzle.

 
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