Willi Castro is Becoming Disturbingly Valuable

[Squirrel]

2 hours ago, saviking said:

Our young guys like Krilloff, Larnach, Wallner, Julien and soon to be Lewis

Just to point out … Gordon is 27, Castro and Larnach are 26, Kirilloff and Wallner are 25, then Miranda and Julien are 24 and Lewis is 23. I’m not sure at what age cutoff is young. I hear it all the time ‘our young guys’ … what’s young? Is Larnach young at 26, but Gordon isn’t at 27? Correa is 28, Gallo, Buxton and Polo are all 29 and Max is the ripe old age of 30.

That aside, I want the best out there. I care more about how they are playing than whether or not they’re our ‘young guys.’ I’m actually not sure where Miranda fits, tbh, but the way he’s playing, that may not be a worry. Is he still young enough at 24? I think we are at the end of the road with Gordon, but not sure how tradable he is right now with his injury. So, Castro, if he can keep up what he’s doing, putting together some good hits and playing well enough all over the place, I do think he supplants Gordon as our 26th-man/super-utility player. Whenever Gordon comes back from injury, we’ll see where he and Castro are at. Castro played well yesterday, but where will he be in a week?

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, Nine of twelve said:

The emergence of Castro doesn't seem like a fluke. One upshot of this is that Nick Gordon's usefulness to the Twins has diminished. I look for the team to move Gordon at the deadline if not sooner, and I truly hope he has success elsewhere.

I don't think Gordon will be playing for some time--August at best, next season at worst. Depending on how many are injured, there may not be a place for Nick when (and if) he is ready to play to this year. 

[Blyleven2011]

Is Castro valuable  ???

He has performed  on the defensive side of the game where ever played  , hitting isn't his strength unless he is a late bloomer ....

I didn't see or hear the game but it was a nice Saturday game boxscore to read ...

Not only did the blind squirrel find an acorn , but he found TWO  ...

 

[stringer bell]

I'm hopeful we'll see some changing of the guard in the composition of the Twins active roster. Adding Julien and Lewis and utilizing Castro might add a bit more of a base stealing dimension to the team, especially if Buxton is able to and allowed to run. 

For now, with Taylor's long hitting snag, I would hope that Castro gets more reps in center field. He's certainly swinging the bat too well to be on the bench. His OPS+ is currently 113, while Taylor's is 81.

[Major League Ready]

I have not seen enough of him in CF to have an opinion as to if he can hold his own in CF.  He would be a real asset if he could play an average CF.  Maybe they should send him to STP to play CF for a couple weeks.  

[Rosterman]

Always one of those interesting times in managing a team. Gordon probably ahd his msot value coming off of last season, and the Twins could've dangled him more with the additions of roster adds Taylor and Solano happening. Now, he is out of options and a hard decision will have to be made about him on his return.

Castro is a real deal, because he can be thaat pinch runner, and also has the ability to bunt. Two wonderful things to have off the bench in an extra inning game. Helman is a potential short-term backup/reserve when he becomes available, and the Twins will have to find space for names like Martin, Bechtold and others in seasons going forth.

[Ted Wiedmann]

1 hour ago, Major League Ready said:

I have not seen enough of him in CF to have an opinion as to if he can hold his own in CF.  He would be a real asset if he could play an average CF.  Maybe they should send him to STP to play CF for a couple weeks.  

I would be very surprised if Castro was a capable everyday centerfielder. Might be better than Gordon out there since he's faster and has a better arm, but I'm not optimistic about it. Hope he proves me wrong since he's the only non-Michael A option in center right now and may get some run out there. 

[Riverbrian]

Castro has made more of his opportunity than quite a few others have made of their opportunities. 

I'll let others make assumptions on what he will be a month from now. 

Right now... we need opportunists.

BTW... I've seen it mentioned a couple of times. 

26th Man/Super Utility isn't a thing. 

26th Man is just utility. 

Super Utility is when you play most days at different positions. If he keeps hitting and Rocco lets him... He may become Super Utility. 

 

[JD-TWINS]

19 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I think you're right unless.... can he play a a passable CF? MAT is way off, may be because of his back issues. I see an IL stint coming for him.  Castro as an everyday CF a possibility?

Gallo is more likely an everyday CF to relieve Taylor. Taylor is back to his norm and it’s glaring now because he plays so often. Gallo has a hamstring problem and may not be able to play OF for a few weeks? Kiriloff - Walner are in the corners for the short term with Garlick playing v. LH pitching.

Makes sense Castro may play between Kirilloff - Walner/Kepler in the short-term.

He’s actually shown that there’s some merit to treat him like a switch hitter - not just on paper. Encouraging!

Can bunt to move runners, not always perfect but capable. Can steal a base. He brings value!

3 weeks ago I wouldn’t have considered promoting his abilities. it he’s earned some respect.

[ashbury]

This article aged well.

[Craig Arko]

Good player, clearly not a CF.

[ashbury]

53 minutes ago, Craig Arko said:

Good player, clearly not a CF.

I don't know how well he tracks the ball when in the outfield - on the popup today it wasn't clear that he did, particularly on the initial jump.  But in addition to tracking, you want your CF above all to be both decisive and correct*, and on that play he slowed up then sped up again, and that's going to cost now and then.

He's only got 13 complete games of experience in CF so I wouldn't go so far as to say he can't play it.  If he finds himself playing games again for St Paul, that would be a good place to hone the skills in center.

 

* Jake Cave for example tended to be decisive but incorrect at times, which is probably worse than the other way around.

[saviking]

On 5/28/2023 at 9:30 AM, Squirrel said:

Just to point out … Gordon is 27, Castro and Larnach are 26, Kirilloff and Wallner are 25, then Miranda and Julien are 24 and Lewis is 23. I’m not sure at what age cutoff is young. I hear it all the time ‘our young guys’ … what’s young? Is Larnach young at 26, but Gordon isn’t at 27? Correa is 28, Gallo, Buxton and Polo are all 29 and Max is the ripe old age of 30.

That aside, I want the best out there. I care more about how they are playing than whether or not they’re our ‘young guys.’ I’m actually not sure where Miranda fits, tbh, but the way he’s playing, that may not be a worry. Is he still young enough at 24? I think we are at the end of the road with Gordon, but not sure how tradable he is right now with his injury. So, Castro, if he can keep up what he’s doing, putting together some good hits and playing well enough all over the place, I do think he supplants Gordon as our 26th-man/super-utility player. Whenever Gordon comes back from injury, we’ll see where he and Castro are at. Castro played well yesterday, but where will he be in a week?

Good point on age but they are young in terms of experience in the majors and are younker than our older guys. Due to the fact they have options left and we are committed to some new un optionable players like Castro and Solano it hurts the chances of guys like Wallner who's ready. 

[stringer bell]

Nick Gordon is on the 60-day IL so I believe Castro has at least six weeks to make a place on the active roster his own. As a six-position switch hitter with base stealing speed, he checks a lot of boxes. I think the hitting will always be a test for him and he's a better corner defender than up the middle. I think Castro is a stopgap center fielder and with Buxton at DH, it would be nice if he were better out there. If he was, he probably wouldn't have had to sign a minor league contract this winter.

Edit to add: Today, according to BBRef, Castro is the #1 position player on the Twins in WAR (1.1).