The Colorado Rockies have yet to sign a player to an MLB contract. There are needs at first and second base and one name has already been linked to the Rockies: Willi Castro.
He is in the middle tier of available position players, adding a mix of versatility along with speed and decent contact rates. He is coming off a down year in 2025, where he slashed .226/.335/.407 with the Twins and Cubs. Along with a slumpy slashline, Castro’s defense cratered from an average 0 OAA to -9 OAA and he managed just 10 steals versus his excellent 33 from 2023.
Willi got the Blake Street Banter Group chat going and it ended in a 50/50 split as to whether the squad would want to bring in Castro or not. We thought it would be fun for you to see how the conversations within the BSB team go.
The Banter
Aaron:
Am I missing something with (Willi) Castro? I don’t like the fit. I see the UTIL status as being beneficial but he doesn’t bring any anything special to the table. It feels very Thairo (Estrada) like. No power and swings and misses more than league average.
Tyler:
I wouldn’t really like the signing either. I’d rather just have Nicky Lopez make the roster if we’re pursuing infield depth. [Castro] was good with Minnesota before a horrible finish in Chicago though.
A: Which says something. I agree on Nicky. Give me Nicky for free all day.
Isaac:
During Castro’s stint with Minnesota (2023-halfway through 2025), he had a 107 wRC+ and a 6.5 fWAR across 368 games. The last Rockie to put up those kinds of numbers was C.J. Cron from 2021-halfway through 2023. He would be a great addition to the team!
Castro will be 28 when the season starts, and I don’t think we should be thinking of him so negatively after 34 games [with the Cubs]. In theory, that stretch will make him cheaper, which would essentially be more valuable.
Thairo Estrada was fresh off of a bad two year stretch, over 200 games of being bad. Makes sense why he didn’t do great in Colorado. I don’t think a 34 game stretch will translate to next year, especially at 28.
T: A lot of that [Castro’s 6.5 fWAR] was on the back of above average defense and baserunning which both fell off last year. Maybe he rebounds a little but there’s a chance he’s on a trajectory to be replacement level within a year or two.
A: Well then, Thairo is a bad comparison.
I don’t want to put all the stock in that one good season. [The Rockies] already do that too much with players. He’d have to be super cheap for me to get on board but right now at 2nd base, roll with Nicky or Ritter.
I: In 2025, he would have had the 3rd highest wRC+ on the Rockies and 5th highest fWAR.
Castro is still fast, with the right coaching and gameplan, I don’t see why he couldn’t be a good baserunner again.
I feel like his failures were from outside intangibles (stress, adjusting [to a new team (CHC)], or just an overall bad mindset). I don’t think many of which were from pure regression. I can side with you on fielding, but again, if you’re mentally not in the right spot, then of course you won’t field as well.
A: Being third in anything on the Rockies last year is like getting 4 of the 6 Powerball numbers, doesn’t really matter. haha.
T: [reply to Isaac] To an extent, this may be true and I don’t think he’s an awful player but he doesn’t really bring the upside we should be targeting in these fringe free agent guys.
I: Castro’s 34 game stint with the Cubs vs career:
| wRC+ | 40 (Cubs) | 95 (Career) |
| Batting Average | .170 | .244 |
| On Base Percentage | .245 | .313 |
| Slugging | .240 | .385 |
| wOBA | .223 | .305 |
I’ll go out on a limb and say his 34 games weren’t similar to his career numbers
A: [in agreement to Tyler] This. This is what I’m trying to say as well. Fine player, but what’s the point.
I: What’s the upside with Nicky Lopez?
A: Go look at each Swing %, O-Swing% and Whiff. You’ll like Nicky more than Willi.
I: He could? He couldness is the upside. Willi Castro DID it for 86 games in 2025, and for 282 games before that as well.
[in response to Aaron] Going off of this I would rather have Yonathan Daza than Hunter Goodman.
T: [response to Isaac Nickey upside question] He’s a good bench player. Defense is steady and he’ll make enough contact to produce more than a Kyle Farmer did. He’s on an MiLB deal.
I: [response to Aaron’s powerball comment] When you are behind two guys with a wRC+ over 110 then I think you’re in good company, regardless of W/L.
T: If we’re (sorry Woody) spending money beyond this year, it should be on pitching or getting O’Hear/Arraez.
A: Willi and Nicky have essentially the same career OBP/SLG and BA.
What seperates them is the BB and K rate.
Nicky walks more and SO less. Something I’d rather have in Coors.
We saw success with that with Freeman last year.
And Nicky is on an MiLB deal.
That money could be spent on better (more for sure) players than Willi
I: [response about Freeman] In the first half, the same half where we saw Willi Castro be 9% above average offensively.
A: This doesn’t help my Freeman arguemnt but he was a bell curve.
I: I’m just weirded out why you two are so adamant about a minor league contract signee who hasn’t been good in five years? Nicky Lopez will not do much for the future of the Rockies. And it’d be lazy if they gave him an opportunity. 79 wRC+ in AAA last year. Poor bat to ball (regardless of low K%) isn’t that valuable and extremely situational. Especially with no DH. I get he’s on a MiLB contract, but settling for a MiLB contract when we can get a guy like Castro is kind of silly to me. Castro can contribue to the Rockies when they make the playoffs down the line. (Noah liked this)
A: I don’t think either of us are adamanat about Nicky.
It’s more of what Tyler said, “to an extent this may be true but I don’t think he’s an awful player but he doesn’t really bring the upside we should be targeting in these fringe FA guys.”
If we’re looking to have a UTIL player, we have three of those in Nicky, Freeman and Ritter. Rather the money be spent elsewhere, better for sure type player than Castro.
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T: It’s cost-benefit. Nicky is a no cost, solid glove to play some 2B/SS when needed versus Castro is a mid cost player without any clear carrying tool based on last year’s performance. If we’re spending money, do it elsewhere.
A: Troy Johnston had similar numbers to Castro last year. I know the arguement is Castro has done it longer but the cost for a Troy, who’s very similar to Castro, is cheaper. Troy could be a playoff helper as well.
I: I guess we will have to see. Of course I’d rather have Arraez and O’Hearn, but I don’t know how realistic it would be for them to watn to sign with Colorado. I think a take what you can get mindset while accounting for upsdie and age would be great. He’d automatically be our best second baseman. (Liked by Aaron)
T: If we were to strike out on Arraez/O’Hearn, I’d be a little more open to Castro. I just don’t love the idea of making him a Winter Meetings priority. haha. (liked by Aaron)
We’re arguing about Willi Castro while the Dodgers are signing Edwin Diaz. The life of a Rockie fan.
Riley: I’ll die on my Willi Castro hill. He helped me win a lot of MLB The Show this year. I’m a sucker for those mid-switch hitters. (All jokes, of course)
BASEBALL TALK BY THE TEAM FOR 10 MINUTES
Noah: I know we’re past it but I’d really like it if we signed Willie Castro.
I: Isaac and Noah v. The World
MORE BASEBALL TALK
R: On a serious note, I think I’d be in on signing Willi. He’s versatile defensively and hits decent (not terrible but not great). His home/road splits are pretty even too, aside forma small home bias to avg, obp and slg.
Eli: Just to throw my hat in the ring. I’d be in favor of passing on Castro. For similar reasons as Tyler and Aaron.
Cameron: Personally would love for them to at least throw some money at Bichette for him to play 2B. There’s a connection there and he’s lineup protection that is needed.
Nick: Get Jamie Moyer on the phone. *shares this tweet*
Where do you stand on the signing of Willi Castro?
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