Willi Castro entered free agency on a down note, as he hit only .170/.245/.240 over 110 plate appearances with the Cubs after Chicago acquired the utilityman from Minnesota at the trade deadline. Despite the sour finish, Castro is still drawing attention from multiple teams, as ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reports that the Braves, Pirates, and Rockies are among the interested suitors.
Castro landed the final spot on MLBTR’s ranking of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, with a prediction of a two-year, $14MM contract as Castro enters his age-29 season. The multi-year pact reflects Castro’s extreme versatility as a player who has lined up at every position but catcher over his seven Major League seasons. While Castro is an average defender at best, his ability to at least capably handle multiple spots around the diamond makes him a bit of a Swiss Army knife type and a very useful guy to have on a bench.
As evidenced by his time with the Twins, Castro was also capable of taking on a more regular role in the event of injuries to a starting player. Castro hit .250/.335/.398 with 31 homers and 56 steals (out of 73 attempts) over 1388 plate appearances in a Twins uniform, and he has virtually even career splits as a switch-hitter.
Atlanta’s starting lineup is more or less set, apart from the question mark that is the shortstop position. The Braves already picked up one utility player when Mauricio Dubon was acquired from the Astros, so Dubon and Castro could each get action at shortstop, or both could be mixed and matched all over the diamond as circumstances warrant. President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos has said his team prefers to rotate several players through the open DH spot, so Castro or Dubon could be utilized in the field whenever another regular is getting a DH day. There has been speculation that Ozzie Albies could be a trade chip this winter, so it is possible more playing time might open up at the Braves’ second base position.
The Pirates’ position-player mix is a lot less settled, so Castro could conceivably be used all over the infield in timeshares with any of Nick Gonzales, Nick Yorke, or Jared Triolo. If Castro can get his bat back to the slightly above-average level of production he showed in Minnesota, that will count as an upgrade for a Bucs team in sore need of offensive help. Because Castro can be moved all over the diamond, his acquisition also wouldn’t prevent Pittsburgh from seeking out further bats at basically any position. At something in the neighborhood of $14MM, Castro is also inexpensive enough that even a budget-conscious team like the Pirates could afford a signing.
Colorado basically needs help everywhere coming off a 119-loss disaster of a season. Ezequiel Tovar is the starting shortstop but Castro could be viewed as an everyday option at any of the other three infield positions, with second or third base probably more likely than regular duty at first base. Installing Castro into the outfield mix could also make the Rockies more open to dealing from their current crop of outfielders.
Even if Castro is signed to a multi-year contract, the Rockies might look to flip him to a contender at the trade deadline in order to pick up a couple of prospects, as Minnesota did last summer. The same deadline flip tactic could conceivably be employed by the Braves or Pirates as well, though these two teams have much higher hopes of contending in 2026 than the Rockies.
Lil less talk and a lot more action. Let’s turn that interest into true love. That’s enough being first though. I’ll be nice and let you flesh bags have some.
What?
Castro is a realistic target for the Bucs…. 10HR/20SB potential. And his low .700 OPS is an improvement over just about everyone on the team
“Castro is a realistic target for the Bucs”
A+ there. If it cost 7m a year or more it’s a awful decision but absolutely realistic of them to do.
Guy isn’t creating enough wins. Takes $ away from other potential free agents. Doesn’t excite the fans at all. This is what the fans expect and that’s why they need to shock the fans and do something unexpected. Use this $ on power. Dfa Triolo Gonzales Yorke if they are so bad you need this guy. Get a rule 5 reliever.
Castro is fine utility player. Just not when you only have 30m to spend and need 50 hrs and 40 man is loaded with utility players and your two best hitting prospects that are near ready are your everyday ss and 2b.
Ya he doesn’t move the needle at all. It’d be a typical Pirates signing tho. Cheap and sell off
He can raise the floor. Pirates have a lot of holes to fill and he can fill whichever doesn’t get plugged.
Buyer beware, any team signing Willi will also need a spot for Rocco on their staff
Pirates dont need another utility player. They have triolo for that. Get another bat. Preferably a left handed hitter. Cherrington needs to get his crap together and make a trade or a big bat signing. Not the low end of the totem pole
I actually want this guy on the Yankees if they’re using Cab at ss to start mostly. He always ends up on my fantasy team, why not my irl team too?
Not a needle mover for Pirates. Avoid at all cost unless there is no cost. Pirates need big offense production not a utility player.
@Sal. IMO I’d want back Rosario instead to platoon with McMahon. LoL Pirates interested that’s more like the Pirates. Forget about Schwarber or Alonso
I’ll be reminding you in spring training about the financial hall of famer Bob Nutting. I hope I’m wrong, but I won’t be. They’re going to spend peanuts.
He has lots of defensive flexibility, but is notably below average at SS.
He is a switch hitter, has good speed, but doesn’t get on base enough to really take advantage of it.
He would definitely be an improvement as a bench player over some of the guys Atlanta used last year,
BUT with his established shortcomings and the projected salary I don’t think he’d be the best use of payroll dollars for the Braves.
If they sign him, then I’ll wish him success, but I’ll also be disappointed.
If the Braves sign this guy it would signal they will go with Dubon as the starting SS and move Castro around the diamond. Money saving move I guess. Castro would provide versatility… probably better on base skills at this point than Ozzie, Michael or Dubon with speed as well. Not a sexy move but something. Hopefully Weiss(as opposed to Snit) will actually use his bench to mitigate the eventual slumps from Ozzie, Michael, etc.
Please Braves we do not need another bargain basement shortstop. That approach has been tried for the last three years and has not worked. The Braves need a real major league shortstop to compete. AA is just wasting another year of competing with this lineup and the window is closing. Spend some money AA and fill out the lineup with real major league options and farting around! Kim is a true option and needs to be signed now! Keep Dubon as a true utility option and depth. Injuries happen every year and the Braves major league is challenged ( i.e., Ozzie, Riley, Acuna, etc.,) because we don’t have quality big league depth. Let’s go for it in 2026 and quit hoping, but take the steps to really compete on the field.
You know money is bad when the Braves are mentioned in the same headline with the Rockies and Bucs….and is AA really going to trot out an actual platoon at SS? Platoon in LF or DH sure, but at SS? There’s no way he would allow the Braves to start the season in such a negative position right?
Typical Pirates Offseason move!!
Father: goes to the toy store to buy something for his son.
The son wants him to get Kyle Schwarber and the dad only comes back with Wili Castro…..
And you wonder why fans are sick of Ownership…
As a Braves fan…I sure hope the Rockies get him.
Ah, now we’re talking Ben Cherington territory. This is the kind of guy he’ll bring in. Might not be this one, but forget the blather about having money to spend. It’s PR. Nutting owns this franchise to make huge profits and nothing more. Spend very little on product and reap the rewards from MLB’s delicious revenue streams.
That’s all it will ever be with Carpetbsggin’ Bob
Seems right – Dodgers – Diaz, Phillies Schwaber = Braves Castro.
Final piece of the Braves WS puzzle!
Pirates, minor league prospects. Yeah. We’re used to it
Rockies have already had disappointing results from Miguel Castro and Harold Castro in recent years.
Third Castro’s a charm?
The Braves have about 50 million to spend and they are determined to spend it all on utility infielders who can’t hit and relief pitchers that can’t throw strikes.
Big Willi style