Rockies Secure Willi Castro with Two-Year Contract
The Colorado Rockies have secured utility player Willi Castro on a two-year contract, with a total value of $12.8 million. This agreement was reported by ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and confirmed by Robert Murray of FanSided. Castro, who turns 29 in April, bolsters the Rockies’ roster as they navigate a full 40-man lineup.
Willi Castro’s Recent Career Performance
Willi Castro has recently shown his versatility as a multi-positional player in Major League Baseball. In the past three seasons, he has established himself as a valuable asset. Despite facing challenges leading up to free agency, including a slump, he has managed to secure a significant deal with the Rockies.
2023 Season Highlights
After being non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers in 2022, Castro signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins ahead of the 2023 season. This decision proved fruitful as he made the Opening Day roster and participated in 124 games.
- Games played: 124
- Plate appearances: 409
- Home runs: 9
- Walk rate: 8.3%
- Batting average: .257
- On-base percentage: .339
- Slugging percentage: .411
- Wins Above Replacement (fWAR): 2.5
- Stolen bases: 33 (success rate: 86.8%)
His overall performance led to a weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) of 107, making him seven percent above league average. Castro demonstrated defensive adaptability, playing in all three outfield positions and across the infield with strong ratings in each role.
2024 Season Continuation
Castro continued to build on his success in 2024. His statistics remained competitive with a .247 batting average and a wRC+ of 106, alongside 14 stolen bases. His fWAR increased slightly to 2.9, reflecting enhanced playing time and consistent performance.
Trade to the Cubs
During the previous season, Castro was traded to the Chicago Cubs after the Twins opted to shift their roster strategy. He had made 86 appearances for the Twins with a respectable batting line of .245/.335/.407 and a wRC+ of 109 before the trade.
- Trade: Twins to Cubs
- Return: Minor league pitchers Ryan Gallagher and Sam Armstrong
Unfortunately, Castro’s performance declined with the Cubs, where he recorded a disappointing slash line of .170/.245/.240 and a low wRC+ of 40 in limited play. Despite this setback, he contributed defensively and appeared in two playoff games.
The Rockies’ investment in Castro represents their belief in his potential to be a key player in the coming seasons, making him a formidable option for Colorado’s lineup as they head into the future.
