As MLB’s trade deadline nears, left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe, right-handed hitting outfielder Harrison Bader, and switch-hitting utility player Willi Castro are the players most likely to no longer be Minnesota Twins come Aug. 1. All three players should net sizable returns for Minnesota. Yet, given his defensive versatility and platoon-proof offensive profile, Castro is the rental option most likely to generate the most substantial package for Twins decision-makers.

Hitting .257/.346/.429 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, a 24.8% strikeout rate, and 118 wRC+ over 319 plate appearances, Castro has been one of Minnesota’s most productive hitters, resulting in him consistently hitting in the top half of the club’s order. Performing 18% better than league-average at the plate, Castro’s defensive versatility has yet again been in full effect, with the 28-year-old netting starts at the following positions:

Second base – 26 starts

Left field – 25 starts

Right field – 16 starts

Third base – nine starts

Shortstop – two starts

Admittedly, Castro hasn’t provided plus value at these positions, sporting a cumulative -5 Outs Above Average (OAA). Even though he has regressed into a subpar defender this season, he is nevertheless serviceable. He can start or be inserted into a game as a defensive substitution at any of the five aforementioned positions, still making him an incredibly valuable asset. Possessing this value, contending teams will actively be vying for Castro’s services. Which teams will be most aggressive in their pursuit? What type of packages could Minnesota net? Let’s take a look.

Milwaukee Brewers
The first potential destination for Castro is Minnesota’s “border rival,” the Milwaukee Brewers. Concluding an 11-game win streak after a 1-0 loss against Logan Gilbert and the Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee has propelled itself into World Series contender status, sitting one game ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central standings at 60-41. Nineteen games above .500, Milwaukee’s success has been driven by an above-average starting rotation, elite bullpen, and assortment of unexpected offensive contributors, including Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, and (very recently) Andrew Vaughn.

The Brewers are a very deep team enriched with young, team-controlled talent. Yet, if there is one area of weakness, it would be the club’s bench, which is highlighted by a lack of a viable utility player. As of now, Andruw Monasterio and Anthony Seigler are receiving the most opportunities off Milwaukee’s bench. However, the two position players have generated a combined 47 wRC+ over 76 plate appearances. These two players are effectively unplayable, especially for a club contending for a division title. That being the case, Milwaukee would significantly benefit from acquiring a plus utility player: enter Castro.

If acquired, Castro would likely slot primarily in the corner outfield and third base for Milwaukee, given that Brice Turang possesses a stronghold over second base. Castro could also mix in at shortstop. However, with primary starting shortstop Joey Ortiz‘s strong start out of the All-Star break and superb range at the position, there is reason to believe manager Pat Murphy will continue to provide the 27-year-old extended opportunities at the position.

Nevertheless, Castro would be an exceptionally valuable acquisition for Milwaukee. Club decision-makers could demote one of Monasterio or Seigler to Triple-A Nashville and insert Castro’s plus bat into the lineup on a game-to-game basis. Milwaukee possesses a deep prospect pool, meaning Minnesota could net a substantial package if it elects to send the 28-year-old utility player to the 414. That being the case, the Twins front office could poach two top-30 prospects from Milwaukee’s farm system, with a package potentially being headlined by starting pitching prospect Tyson Hardin or infield prospect Blake Burke.

San Diego Padres
As long as AJ Preller is San Diego’s head baseball executive, the Padres will be incredibly active at the trade deadline, and this season’s deadline shouldn’t be any different. Despite operating under significant spending restrictions, Preller will get creative in patching the holes in the Padres’ 26-man roster. Interestingly, Castro could be the solution to nearly all of San Diego’s position player shortcomings, sans catcher (which, don’t rule out Ryan Jeffers to San Diego).

Instead of an upgrade at a specific position, San Diego needs MLB-caliber hitters to insert into the bottom half of its order. If traded to the Padres, Castro could become the club’s primary starting left fielder, the position he has netted the second-most starts at for Minnesota. Inserting Castro into left field would give San Diego another competent bat to complement the top half of its order.

The Padres have one of the worst farm systems in baseball and one of the most aggressive executives in baseball, meaning that if Castro were sent to San Diego, the Twins front office could potentially poach one or multiple of their top prospects or MLB-ready talent, such as right-handed starting pitching prospects Ryan Bergert and Braden Nett or young, high-potential position player prospects in Cobb Hightower and Kale Fountain.

Cincinnati Reds
Despite operating as a super utility player in 2023 and 2024 for Minnesota, Castro has been limited to playing second base, third base, and the corner outfield this season, with third base arguably being the position he presently provides the most value at. Interestingly, Cincinnati is in the market for third base and corner outfield help, making Castro a viable solution to the club’s most pressing needs.

Now, labeling the Reds as “buyers” could be deemed a far-fetched proclamation. Yet, after going 15-11 in June and manufacturing a commendable 9-9 record so far in July, Cincinnati sits at 52-47 and just 1 1/2 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot. Possessing an 11% chance of earning an NL Wild Card spot, according to FanGraphs, the Reds hold worse playoff odds than Minnesota, which possesses a 12.6% chance of earning an AL Wild Card spot. Still, with Reds’ General Manager Brad Meador stating the club could buy and sell at the deadline, Castro could end up in the Queen City.

Unlike San Diego, Cincinnati has a robust farm system, meaning Minnesota could net a more alluring package for the versatile position player’s services. Despite possessing a significant amount of high-end starting pitching prospects, Minnesota should target position player prospects with high-upside bats. That being the case, left-handed hitting outfield prospect Héctor Rodríguez would be the ideal headliner of a return package, with fellow left-handed hitting outfield prospects Carlos Jorge and Ethan O’Donnell being intriguing options, too.