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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Chicago Cubs gave up a pair of minor league pitching prospects, Ryan Gallagher and Sam Armstrong, to the Minnesota Twins to acquire utility player Willi Castro at the 2025 trade deadline.
Now, it appears Castro's time in Chicago ended after two months.
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Castro became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2025 World Series. On Thursday, the 28-year-old veteran signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Rockies, according to multiple reports.
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Castro is a career .244 hitter with 56 home runs and 75 stolen bases for the Detroit Tigers (2019-22), Twins (2023-25) and Cubs. Jorge Castillo of ESPN was first to report the signing. Robert Murray of FanSided was first to report Castro will be guaranteed $12.8 million.
Castro slashed .170/.245/.240 in 34 games for the Cubs after the trade. He also appeared in two postseason games for the Cubs but did not record a plate appearances.
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The Cubs were eliminated in a five-game National League Division Series by the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers.
The Rockies, helmed by a new president of baseball operations (Paul DePodesta) and general manager (Josh Byrnes), are retooling their roster in hopes of reversing a streak of three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
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Castro provides a rare degree of positional versatility, having seen time at all three outfield positions as well as second and third base in 2025. Primarily a shortstop early in his career, Castro finished fourth in 2020 American League Rookie of the Year voting, when he slashed .349/.381/.550 in 36 games.
Offense has not been Castro's primary calling card since the pandemic-shortened season, though he did represent the Twins at the 2024 All-Star Game. He finished that season with a .247/.331/.385 slash line, along with a career-high 12 home runs and 60 RBIs in 158 games.
The Rockies should benefit from Castro's versatility and experience. If he helps them improve their 80 OPS+ in 2025 — the worst mark in MLB last season — it will be considered a nice bonus.
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