The Astros’ desire to add some left-handed balance to their righty-heavy lineup doesn’t mean the team is restricting itself to solely lefty-swingers. Houston has interest in switch-hitting utilityman Willi Castro, according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, though the depth of any talks between the Astros and Twins isn’t known.
Now in his third straight year of above-average offensive production, Castro’s 116 wRC+ — from a .254/.342/.423 slash line and 10 homers in 331 plate appearances — projects as his best over a full season. Castro’s career splits are pretty much even, though this season has seen him hit considerably better as a right-handed hitter (.836 OPS in 94 PA) than from the left side of the plate (.739 OPS over 233 PA). A marked increase in slugging percentage is the biggest difference between the two splits, though there is the caveat of a pretty small sample size in 2025, in comparison to the wider measure of Castro’s entire seven-year MLB career.
Even that more modest production as a left-handed bat would still check a big box for an Astros team that was sorely in need of lefty swingers even before Yordan Alvarez’s extended stint on the injured list. Taylor Trammell and Jon Singleton are the only left-handed hatters on Houston’s active roster, and Victor Caratini and Cooper Hummel are switch-hitters. While the Astros have good offensive numbers overall, their collective 101 wRC+ against right-handed pitching ranks around the middle of the league, and is a clear flaw to be exploited by rival pitching staffs.
Castro’s ability to play all over the diamond is also a key selling point to his trade value. Houston has nine position players on the injured list, so Castro can both help provide needed depth right now, and can be mixed-and-matched at any number of positions once some of those injured Astros get back to action. Speaking with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM today, Astros GM Dana Brown said that it would be particularly helpful to obtain a left-handed bat who can play within the infield or in left field specifically, as landing such a left field option would allow the Astros to move Jose Altuve back to second base and address the undermanned infield mix.
Third base could be the larger issue at the moment, as Brown also stated today that Isaac Paredes would be getting a second opinion on a hamstring strain that “is a little bit more severe than we projected.” Manager Joe Espada already stated earlier this week that Paredes was facing a “pretty serious” injury and wouldn’t comment one way or the other about the possibility that Paredes’ season could be over. Brown’s update that Paredes is getting a second opinion seems to imply that a hamstring surgery could be under consideration, which would certainly rule Paredes out for the remainder of 2025.
Minnesota’s 7-2 loss to the Nationals today dropped the Twins to 50-55 on the season, and 5.5 games back of the last AL wild card slot. It is becoming increasingly likely that the Twins will be primarily looking to sell at the deadline, and thus impending free agents like Castro are natural trade chips. Castro’s versatility and switch-hitting bat will make him a hot commodity in trade talks, plus the roughly $2.133MM remaining on his $6.4MM salary for 2025 makes him a fit in any contender’s budget.
For the Astros in particular, Castro’s low price tag has appeal since the club is known to be wanting to stay under the $241MM luxury tax threshold. Houston’s estimated $235.5MM tax number (as per RosterResource) gives the Astros only a little bit of room to maneuver, but since injuries have opened up so many holes on the roster, it will be difficult for Brown to address everything in a meaningful way without bringing in enough extra salary to cross the tax line.
the Astros just got swept by the A’s — four games — in Houston — yikes.
They got Nick Kurtz-ed.
The Colonel had the day off today and the A’s whipped them 7-1 – Houston looks ragged without Pena and Parades. Parades is an important cog in that lineup and he is out for a six to eight weeks, could be done until the playoffs.
Its a huge loss. They need Alvarez and Pena back. Astros have to overpay for Suarez. Walter and Wesneski would probably do it. Two controllable starters, Wesneski has his TJ out of the way, that’s a plus. If AZ added two starters it would be a nice return.
Paredes is likely out for the season, exploring a second option on a hamstring is never good. Likely tore it. Wesneski is down with TJ, not sure a trading team is looking for to rehab him for a year in hopes he can stick as a #4/5 starter with one year of arb left after he comes back.
I thought Wesneski had more team control left. Walter without his recent elbow flare up would have been a good option but he is still an interesting add.
Switch it to Walter and Ronel Blanco. Blanco will miss most of ’26 and Walter could be out with a TJ too but both have pitched well in MLB. Both could be good after they return from injury. Say Walter has a TJ in September, he would miss all of ’26. D’Backs wouldnt be out much cash as he is in prearb. Theyd get three full seasons of Blanco and four full seasons of Walter after ’26. Their ’27 salaries would be minimal. Both could potentially plug into the rotation without any AAA seasoning. Both would be less of an injury risk having had their surgeries.
Doesn’t help you much in ’26. I dont know if the D’Backs can do better. Likely they can but headlining a trade with Walter and Blanco would have me interested.
For Houston, they get rid of the baggage, they have a lot of it. D’Backs need pitching, they get two good ones.
With 18 injured players (8 of them pitchers) it is no surprise they are losing to teams like the A’s.
They’re looking awful. Anemic lineup and pitching given all the injuries, but if enough guys make it back and get up to speed, they oughta have a decent shot.
Well seeing as the journeyman of all journeymen Jon Singleton is a major part of their lineup, I’m not surprised.
He is not a major part of the Astros line up. He has barely played at all since being called it. Shouldn’t speak on things you don’t know about.
If you want to mention journeymen that are part of the line ups on a daily basis, at least mention Zack Short and Taylor Trammell, not Singleton, who is parked on the pine for the most part.
He’s played in two games.
Good bench piece that can move all around the diamond with speed and some pop. Would definitely be a good pickup
They’ll have competition.. Just about every contender could use him.
With Houston Reeling you see Texas trying to make a Push too… “All Aboard!!!”
@Mark
I’d like to offer some feedback as an editor. Please identify a player’s team in full when introducing them. I had to click on Castro’s BR link to find out. Didn’t help I missed the “Twins” at the end of the first graph initially.
In a couple of weeks when Garcia, Javier, Pena return, the ship should get back on course. Too much being asked of too few at present, but that is what injuries can do to any team.
Well not if we overpay on him first!!!
How about a trade for Mauricio of Mets for one of the LHP relievers and Blubaugh? Framber is the biggest piece they have and I would offer him to Dodges for DePaula and Ferris.
So Willi Castro is 28 yrs and will be a free agent in 2026. Should be interesting to see what the Astros or Mariners are willing to offer. Pretty sure the Mariners are swinging the trade for Eugenio Suarez though. Time will tell soon enough.
It seems they need quality starting pitching more – what they’ll get from Javier and Garcia after 14 months off isn’t going to be the difference.
“ability to play all over the diamond”
Very generous of the writer to say that about Castro. His defense sucks, but his bat is fine.