{"id":529091,"date":"2026-01-20T13:54:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T13:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/529091\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T13:54:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T13:54:20","slug":"evaluating-willi-castros-role-with-the-rockies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/529091\/","title":{"rendered":"Evaluating Willi Castro\u2019s role with the Rockies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Thursday ESPN reported that the<\/a> Colorado Rockies had reached an agreement with veteran super utilityman Willi Castro<\/a> on a two-year deal worth $12.8 million<\/a>. Interestingly, the report came as Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta was holding a media availability following the official signing of right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen.<\/p>\n

DePodesta was cagey when asked if he could confirm the move.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s interesting timing while I\u2019m on the zoom with all you folks,\u201d he said. \u201cNo, I probably can\u2019t comment on that. But as I said before, we\u2019ve been in active conversations with other players, and we\u2019re looking to continue to make additions to the team. So I\u2019ll just leave it at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DENVER,<\/a><\/p>\n

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 13: Colorado Rockies new President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta during his introductory press conference at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, November 13, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross\/MediaNews Group\/The Denver Post via Getty Images) Denver Post via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Rockies had been linked to Castro during and after the Winter Meetings<\/a> as DePodesta worked to improve the moribund Rockies at the ground floor of a much-needed rebuild. These improvements would need to come from many possible directions, from improved player development to free agent signings and beyond.<\/p>\n

DePodesta addressed this multi-faceted approach during his media availability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we\u2019re looking at it is that every move compounds right on. So you know, we can just continue to get incrementally better. In the long run, it\u2019ll make a significant impact. I also think there are two ways to make this team better. One is to add players that we think could help. The second is to make our existing players better.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to players who might help, the new Rockies front office has focused on a few specific positions: the starting rotation, first and second base, and the need for a utility player. For starting pitching the Rockies have already signed the aforementioned Michael Lorenzen and are likely to sign at least one more before spring training. There has been little movement at first base since the team claimed Troy Johnson off of waivers from the Miami Marlins before DePodesta\u2019s hiring was finalized.<\/p>\n

For second base and utility, it would appear the Rockies have killed two birds with one stone by bringing in Willi Castro.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican former All-Star started his career as a shortstop with the Detroit Tigers. However, he has since moved largely to a combination of second base and in the outfield. He can play all three outfield positions, as well as third base. Throughout his seven-year big league career he has logged at least 550 innings at every position but catcher and first base.<\/p>\n

\"ARLINGTON,<\/a><\/p>\n

ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 16: Willi Castro #50 of the Minnesota Twins is introduced prior to the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Shirey\/MLB Photos via Getty Images) MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n

While Castro may end up the Rockies\u2019 Opening Day second baseman\u2014especially if Ryan Ritter or Adael Amador fail to impress this spring\u2014his positional versatility will be a factor when it comes to day-to-day lineups.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve looked at different combinations of players and even thinking about our own players in different combinations,\u201d DePodesta explained. \u201cRight now we do have some players that are versatile on the infield. They they could fill in some different spots. So I think it affords us the opportunity to look at the puzzle a lot of different ways. I think it is safe to say that most of the guys we\u2019re looking at now are primarily infielders, given where we are in the outfield, but we are looking at different spots. I think there are different ways of putting the puzzle together that could make sense, depending on who the players are.\u201d<\/p>\n

DePodesta also discussed the state of the outfield, where Castro spent the bulk of his playing time in 2025 with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things I think I may have even talked about on my first day here and talking about Coors was the importance of both outfield defense and base running. There\u2019s so much acreage out there defensively that you need to cover, but it also creates a real opportunity for people who are opportunistic base runners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those factors are what led the Rockies to bringing in outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this off-season. While Castro isn\u2019t as strong of a defender as McCarthy and lacks the same range, he is a significantly better outfield defender than Mickey Moniak and Tyler Freeman were last season. His 28.8 feet per second sprint speed puts him behind only Brenton Doyle (29.5), Ryan Ritter (29.2), and Braxton Fulford (29.1) for players currently on the roster, while his 89.9 MPH average arm strength is above the 2025 league average for all positions save right field and ranks behind only Yanquiel Fern\u00e1ndez (97.2), Doyle (94.2) and Tyler Freeman (92.3). He has also stolen double digit bases in each of his last three seasons, with a career high of 33 with the Twins in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have guys who can play multiple spots in the outfield. Some guys with power, some guys who can really run. I think it\u2019s a nice mix for [manager Warren Schaeffer] and hopefully gives us an opportunity to put together a lineup on any given day that gives us a good chance based on what we\u2019re facing from the opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is a potentially unfortunate downside that comes with bringing in Castro, however. While DePodesta voiced both confidence and excitement in the Rockies\u2019 new big league coaching staff and their ability to \u201ceffectuate\u201d getting better play out of the club\u2019s existing players, he also noted that prospects may still need to earn their spots on the Major League roster with more experienced depth putting pressure on them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at those five outfielders now (Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck, Jake McCarthy, and Tyler Freeman), four of them are in their arbitration eligible stages, and then Jordan is just behind those guys in terms of service time,\u201d DePodesta said. \u201cSo all still young, but now all having some relatively significant experience that\u2019s kind of a nice blend there. I think the young guys are absolutely going to have to earn their way onto the team and into the lineup with those other guys there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Rockies had 13 players make their Major League debuts in 2025, most of which were largely out of necessity with the team\u2019s organizational depth being tested. While some promise was shown, it doesn\u2019t seem like a coincidence that Castro is able to play the same positions as the Rockies\u2019 three most prominent position player debuts in third baseman Kyle Karros, second baseman Ryan Ritter, and corner outfielder Yanquiel Fern\u00e1ndez.<\/p>\n

Karros, Ritter, and Fern\u00e1ndez will likely be given every opportunity to earn a spot on the 26-man Opening Day roster this spring. However, the Rockies may want to send the trio back into the minor league system for additional development, something the team has started investing significant resources into this off-season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis week has been a big week in terms of moving on some of that,\u201d DePodesta mentioned when asked about the minor league coaching and development staff. \u201cWe\u2019re actively interviewing for a number of different positions throughout the minor leagues, and hope to have some of those folks in place in short order. I think in an ideal world, maybe a couple of would be able to join us next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Willi Castro\u2019s contract won\u2019t be official until the Rockies make an announcement\u2014and a corresponding move to clear space on the 40-man roster\u2014its likely safe to assume that he will will suit up in purple pinstripes for the 2026 season. Once the move is made official, the role Castro will fill with the Rockies will become more and more clear the closer we get to Opening Day.<\/p>\n

The Rockies Reset: Why Colorado turned outside to rebuild business and baseball | Sports Business Journal<\/a><\/p>\n

Mike Mazzeo of Sports Business Journal takes a look at the business side of the Rockies\u2019 nascent rebuild as Dick Monfort cedes organizational power to his son Walker while he has focused on labor negotiations. With Walker at the helm, the Rockies have begun a push for innovation on both the field and in the front office with the goal of making the team more than just an afterthought in Colorado sports.<\/p>\n

How Rockies can get more production out of recent trade acquisition in 2026 | Sports Illustrated<\/a><\/p>\n

The Rockies recently acquired speedy outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks, adding him to an already crowded outfield group. McCarthy had a down year in 2025, ultimately losing his spot to Alek Thomas. What can the Rockies do to get McCarthy back on track in 2026?<\/p>\n

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines<\/a> when you\u2019re commenting. Thanks!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last Thursday ESPN reported that the Colorado Rockies had reached an agreement with veteran super utilityman Willi Castro…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":529092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2405],"tags":[5,167,52,4316,4,168,38579],"class_list":{"0":"post-529091","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-colorado-rockies","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-colorado","10":"tag-colorado-rockies","11":"tag-coloradorockies","12":"tag-mlb","13":"tag-rockies","14":"tag-rockpile"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/115927769173298811","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}