Are Cubs and Twins a Good Match in a Willi Castro Trade?

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, luckylager said:

Screw that, I've done 50 years of "adding for the future". Hasn't worked out too well. The future is now.

1991 wasn’t 50 years ago.

[Richard Kittelson]

Right now Castro is the Twins best defensive backup at 2nd, shortstop, left field and centerfield! I was not impressed with Brooks Lee at either 2nd or shortstop. He also adds speed to a lineup pin desperate need of speed. He played in 158 games last year.  He is the only Twins player that should have been worn down during the stretch run! There should only be one reason to trade him and that would be to include him in a bigger trade that would bring in a player of significant impact! Unless that can be done they are better off keeping him! Players like Canario will be available on waivers at the end of Spring Training!

 

[tony&rodney]

6 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I'm with others, I'm only trading Castro if it's part of a bigger deal with Twins prospects for a better player from another team.

This is a possible route. If Boston is locked out of the free agent market they may be quite aggressively seeking an additional starting pitcher. Can Willi Castro be added to a SP to pry away a player like Jarren Duran? The initial impulse is no and I want Emmanuel Rodriguez to start the year in the lineup, but stones need to be turned over, conversations and opportunities need to be explored. A top offer of Jhoan Duran, Willi Castro, and Kyle DeBarge or Billy Amick might draw the attention of Arizona for Jordan Lawler. There are deals. What they are, we cannot know. However, Willi Castro should only be moved for something significant and most likely as the second player in a transaction.

[weitz41]

It's got to be tough finding anything to write about with a second offseason of pretty much run it back looking like the most likely path. I get turning over every stone. Does it make the team better. No then move on. Trading Castro for a lesser player makes little sense at this point.

Like many others have said, as part of a larger trade for someone with more upside. Ok I'm listening. Alcantara for say Castro and Topa plus a throw in or two might get you there.

Even then I might prefer Castro and Topa over a mostly unproven Alcantara.

Realistically,...It's like threading a needle, with your eyes closed, while riding a horse to upgrade this roster without any payroll to work with.

[tony&rodney]

On 12/19/2024 at 3:55 PM, weitz41 said:

Realistically,...It's like threading a needle, with your eyes closed, while riding a horse to upgrade this roster without any payroll to work with.

The payroll limitations are less of a problem than the will or vision. The Twins may see their team as complete with zero additions necessary. Then again, the Twins may want a few changes but are hesitant to make a deal. 

Look around baseball and you will see many teams making some changes. All of the teams hoping to find themselves in the playoffs have made some moves, more or less.

[weitz41]

21 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

The payroll limitations are less of a problem than the will or vision. The Twins may see their team as complete with zero additions necessary. Then again, the Twins may want a few changes but are hesitant to make a deal. 

Look around baseball and you will see many teams making some changes. All of the teams hoping to find themselves in the playoffs have made some moves, more or less.

I don't disagree completely. Subtract the last 40 games of 2024 and would you think the team needs big changes? Probably not. Add in little to zero payroll to work with. What do you do? Run it back is the easiest solution. Hope for 162 games of the 120 games you got in 2024 and you're a playoff team. Then Hope (again) for players progressing in a positive way. Again, run it back makes the most sense. No stars at 1B or a great RH platoon outfielder hasn't been on the roster for a long time. So sadly, improving the roster with that kind of restrictions is imo like I said before.

Big moves can maybe change that but bumping payroll for a platoon player or two one 1-year contracts. I do not believe that will make a difference.

[tony&rodney]

3 minutes ago, weitz41 said:

Subtract the last 40 games of 2024 and would you think the team needs big changes?

Yes.

The Twins have some talent. I don't dispute or overlook that there are good players on the roster. I saw the Twins in the beginning of the year too and was also cognizant that they feasted on the hapless White Sox. Their record versus winning teams left room for improvement. The pitching is good in my opinion. The team lacks speed and the gloves are poor as a team. Thus, I'm of the thought that to compete above a .500 level the Twins need to make a few changes. Specifically, the team needs to address the defense at two or more positions. 

I'm aware that many people on Twins Daily have focused on the big middle part of last season as more representative of the team looking to 2025. I wish that were true and I actually hope it happens. I just don't see it. It very well may be that the Twins believe totally in the current roster, leaving minor peripheral changes to the roster.

I'm also not at all impressed by the limited payroll escape excuse. The Twins have the largest payroll in the AL Central and also have a much bigger payroll than the Brewers. The Guardians made a trade of their 31 home run hitting first baseman among other moves. MLB is a brutally cut-throat business. Teams have options and opportunities all around them. It is up to management to build the best roster. Again, I understand that there is a stance that strongly believes the current guys are the way forward. Hope it works.

[RpR]

On 12/19/2024 at 8:43 AM, old nurse said:

If they are trading Castro it would be to add to the team for future years as Castro will be a free agent. Sorry that you bought into the blogger’s bias 

Right now the Twins have no future; rookies/prospects are fire-crackers that fizzle.

Good vets, in the past, melded with current team players that were not abysmal. Now the vets are gone and the only good players left are Buxton and Correa; Larnach, Miranda and Wallner are keep  your fingers crossed player with lead gloves.

There are two new older rookies who may be a surprise, but as of now the Twins are last years White Sox.

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

Right now the Twins have no future; rookies/prospects are fire-crackers that fizzle.

Good vets, in the past, melded with current team players that were not abysmal. Now the vets are gone and the only good players left are Buxton and Correa; Larnach, Miranda and Wallner are keep  your fingers crossed player with lead gloves.

There are two new older rookies who may be a surprise, but as of now the Twins are last years White Sox.

What you posted has absolutely nothing to do  with Castro being a free agent after this year. 

At the major league level the last 2 years Wallner has not has a fielding error so it isn’t the glove that is leaden. 

[luckylager]

On 12/19/2024 at 12:37 PM, old nurse said:

1991 wasn’t 50 years ago.

Right - the beginning of this 33 year dynasty!