In April, the 29-year-old Castro capped a strong three-year run as one of the better multi-position players in the game. That run ended with a deep slump just before he reached free agency but he still secured himself a nice deal.
He was non-tendered by the Tigers after the 2022 season and then landed with the Twins via a minor league deal ahead of the 2023 campaign. That minor league deal turned into a big win for Minnesota. Castro cracked the Opening Day roster in 2023 and had a strong season playing in 124 games and stepping to the plate 409 times. The switch-hitter launched nine home runs and walked at an 8.3% clip. His .257/.339/.411 batting line led to a 107 wRC+, indicating he was seven percent above average at the plate overall. He also stole 33 bases in 38 attempts.
Defensively, he bounced around the diamond, spending time at all three outfield spots and three infield positions on the left side of first base. He got strong marks almost everywhere the Twins placed him. He even got to see some cleanup on the mound. According to FanGraphs, the total package included 2.5 wins above replacement on the season.
His 2024 season remained largely the same. He slashed .247/.331/.385 for a 106 wRC+, swiped 14 bags, and played every position except catcher and first base. His fWAR total reached 2.9 in slightly more playing time.
Last year, he was essentially at the same pace during the trade deadline. He appeared in 86 games for the Twins, had a .245/.335/.407 batting line, a 109 wRC+ and nine stolen bases while moving around.
The Twins were out of the running and prepared to be sold at the deadline. They sent Castro to the Cubs for minor league pitchers Ryan Gallagher And Sam Armstrong. Castro’s performance declined after the exchange. He slashed .170/.245/.240 for a wRC+ of just 40. A .222 batting average on balls in play didn’t help him, but the Cubs reduced his playing time regardless. He started only two of the final 11 games of the regular season. He appeared in two playoff games for the Cubs, but without sending to the plate.
That was the unfortunate timing when Castro was headed to the open market, but also just 110 plate appearances. It seemed possible that the club would still value his versatility and focus more on the positives of that three-year stint, ignoring the poor performances. At the beginning of the offseason, MLBTR predicted a two-year, $14MM deal for Castro. In December, it was reported that Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Colorado had interest in Castro. The Rockies signed him by giving him a solid two-year deal, just below MLBTR’s predictions.
more to come.
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