The Minnesota Twins have signed just a single free agent to a major league contract this offseason. The $7 million they handed Josh Bell is the entirety of their current outlay. There is a ton of work still to be done for the bullpen, but the lineup doesn’t need any more additions.
The team traded a handful of talent at the deadline last year, and many of those players were on contracts set to expire at the end of the season. Among them was Willi Castro, who got shipped to the Chicago Cubs. The former All-Star now has a new home.
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Rockies sign utility man Willi Castro
The Minnesota Twins swooped in and signed Willi Castro in 2023 after he was released by the Detroit Tigers. Minnesota turned him into a usable utility player and he was productive over his 2.5 seasons with the Twins. Now hitting free agency, he is going to Colorado on a two-year deal with the Rockies.
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In his final year of arbitration, Castro was making $6.4 million in 2025. He’ll now make that same amount each of the next two seasons on a guaranteed deal.
Castro was named to his only All-Star Game in 2024. He posted a 102 OPS+ with a career-high 12 home runs. Last season he was rocking a 104 OPS+ and a .245/.335/.407 slash line in 86 games with Minnesota before being traded.
His time with the Chicago Cubs didn’t go well. Castro hit just .170/.245/.240 with four extra-base hits in 34 games. It wasn’t exactly the addition they thought they were getting at the trade deadline. Despite the Cubs playing in eight postseason games, Castro appeared in just two and was used as a defensive replacement.
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As most hitters do, Castro should get a boost playing at Coors Field. He’ll want an upgrade over the production he has experienced in eight career games though. He is just 6-for-32 with a triple and a home run.
Former Twins have had some significant success signing with the Rockies later in their careers. Both Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer won batting titles playing their home games at Coors Field.
Minnesota doesn’t travel to Colorado this season. The Rockies will be at Target Field the final weekend of June from the 26-28.
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