MN Twins All Star Lands New Deal With Colorado

The $7 million they handed Josh Bell is the entirety of what the Minnesota Twins have handed out in Major League contracts, via free agency so far this offseason. That means there is a ton of work still to be done, specifically in the bullpen.

Rockies sign former Minnesota Twins utility man Willi Castro

The team traded a lot of its talent at the deadline last year, both out of the bullpen and on the field. Among the position players was utility god Willi Castro, who got shipped to the Chicago Cubs. Just a few months later, the 2025 All-Star landed in free agency. And on Thursday, he found a new home.

Castro Rockies deal: $12.8M https://t.co/1eVu0BzoAR

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 15, 2026

The Twins swooped in and signed Willi Castro in 2023 after he was released by the Detroit Tigers, and turned him into an extremely competent utility player. He was productive over his 2.5 seasons.

Castro was named to his only All-Star Game in 2024. He posted a 102 OPS+ with a career-high 12 home runs. Last season he was rocking a 104 OPS+ and a .245/.335/.407 slash line in 86 games with Minnesota before being traded.

In his final year of arbitration, Castro was making $6.4 million in 2025. He’ll now make that same amount each of the next two seasons on a guaranteed deal.

From 2023-2024, Willi Castro accumulated 5.4 fWAR with 21 HR, 47 SB, 107 wRC+.

There’s no question he got unlucky with his free agency timing. Think the Rockies did well here!

Great opportunity for the 28 y/o. pic.twitter.com/Y57zBi7mGa

— Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) January 15, 2026

Willi’s time with the Chicago Cubs didn’t go well. Castro hit just .170/.245/.240 with four extra-base hits in 34 games. It wasn’t exactly the addition they thought they were getting at the trade deadline.

What are Rockies getting in Castro?

Despite the Cubs playing in eight postseason games, Castro appeared in just two and was used as a defensive replacement.

As most hitters do, Castro should get a boost playing at Coors Field. He’ll want an upgrade over the production he has experienced in eight career games though. He is just 6-for-32 with a triple and a home run.

Former Twins have had some significant success signing with the Rockies later in their careers. Both Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer won batting titles playing their home games at Coors Field.

Minnesota doesn’t travel to Colorado this season. The Rockies will be at Target Field the final weekend of June from the 26-28.