Willi Castro Finds a New Home in Colorado, Continues His Unlikely MLB Journey
The Guardians haven’t let too many future big leaguers slip through the cracks over the years, but every now and then, one gets away. Willi Castro is a name that still stings a little in Cleveland. Originally flipped to the Tigers at the 2018 trade deadline for outfielder Leonys Martín, Castro has carved out a respectable major league career - one that’s now taking him to the Mile High City.
On Thursday, Castro agreed to a two-year, $12.8 million deal with the Colorado Rockies, per multiple reports. It’s a fresh start for the versatile switch-hitter, who’s coming off a rough stint with the Cubs but remains one of the more flexible utility players in the game.
Let’s rewind for a second. That trade back in 2018 made sense in the moment - Cleveland was chasing October, and Martín was supposed to be a stabilizing presence in center field.
But Martín’s time in Cleveland was derailed by a serious bacterial infection, limiting him to just 71 games in a Guardians uniform. Meanwhile, Castro slowly but surely developed into a reliable big-league contributor.
After making his MLB debut with Detroit in 2019, Castro earned everyday reps from 2020 through 2022. The Tigers eventually non-tendered him, and he found a new opportunity with the Twins - a move that paid off in a big way.
In 2024, Castro put together his best season to date, slashing .247/.331/.385 with 12 homers, 60 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. That performance earned him an All-Star nod and solidified his reputation as a true Swiss Army knife on the field.
Castro’s versatility has become his calling card. Over the past three seasons, he’s logged 40+ games at multiple positions - everywhere except catcher and first base. That kind of flexibility doesn’t just help fill lineup cards; it gives managers options in a long, grueling season.
The Twins moved him at the 2025 trade deadline, sending him to the Cubs. But his time in Chicago didn’t go as planned.
Castro struggled to a .170 batting average down the stretch, and while he did show flashes of power - including 11 homers in 2025, following 14 in 2024 - the underlying metrics raised some red flags. He finished in the bottom third of the league in barrel rate, hard-hit rate, chase rate, and whiff rate.
In other words, the contact quality wasn’t where it needed to be.
Still, the Rockies see value in Castro - and for good reason. Colorado is in full rebuild mode, and Castro offers both experience and positional depth.
With young infielders like Kyle Karros, Ryan Ritter, and Blaine Crim expected to get significant playing time, Castro figures to be the steady hand who can slide in wherever he’s needed. Tyler Freeman, another familiar name to Guardians fans, is also in the mix, but Castro’s track record suggests he’ll have plenty of chances to contribute.
No, he might not be quite as dynamic as a Gabriel Arias or as defensively polished as Daniel Schneemann, but Castro brings something every team needs: reliability and adaptability. And for a player who once left Cleveland in a trade that’s aged poorly for the Guardians, this next chapter in Colorado is a chance to keep proving he belongs - and maybe even thrive in a hitter-friendly environment like Coors Field.
For the Rockies, it’s a low-risk move with real upside. For Castro, it’s another shot to show he’s more than just a utility guy - he’s a big-league mainstay.