Exploring Two Trade Scenarios for Willi Castro

Mariners if anything, but I prefer to just keep Castro.

These ideas are both well conceived. My only comment would be questions of whether:  Willi Castro is needed on the Twin Roster; would the Brewers even consider trading Hudson; and despite liking Peete as a prospect, can the Twins pry away Harry Ford.

I would consider either trade despite feeling that Castro has high value to the Twins. Tai Peete is a high ceiling, low floor outstanding athlete. This type of acquisition often brings a huge gain down the road. Who fills for Castro in 2025? 

Concerns about Castro were a part of why my blueprint called for a major trade for another prospect of high value, Jordan Lawler, and a promotion of Emmanuel Rodriguez to the lineup. 

When we hear/read of a big increase in conversations from numerous clubs interested in trades in a recent Falvey presser, one wonders where the Twins are headed.

15 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The Twins are in win-now mode with several probable holes in the lineup. Castro is a valuable player. Trade proposals should take both of those things into consideration.

Agree. Thinking further, I'm not too interested in trades that don't clearly help the 2025 team.

The Twins have plenty of relievers. They need another bat. If they trade Castro for a reliever they still have plenty of relievers but now they need two bats.

I don't see Mil doing that deal. Sea might. But we need Castro for 2025. How about if we spend even a little FA money and bring Coloumbe back? Yeah I know there is "budget," every TD article mentions it. If no money for a Coloumbe maybe we should not have resigned Topa and Tonkin.

If the Twins are going to trade their best player then they need a bigger return than what you propose, unless you are of the faith in dumpster diving like the "organizations lofty standards" have brought in lately. I don't need to name names. Some of the sarcasm here is really funny. 

I don't think the M's are trading a first round pick from 2 years ago for a utility IF no matter how highly we think of Castro.

Why is Castro even a trade subject?  His salary doesn't impact the budget, Buxton's does.  It's time to cut sling load on Buck.  Trading Buck saves the team $60M!!  Ten years and he's had 100 hits in a season ONE time.  Management has been too patient and too loyal.  They haven't gotten their monies worth at all.  If you are a fan of launch angles and strikeouts, Buck is your man.  If you are a fan of a player who will do anything for the team to win, Willi is your guy.

The Twins biggest weakness has been speed and defense and we want to get rid of the guys with the most speed (atleast stolen base wise) and good versitile defender. For a true middle reliever.  I don’t like it at all. 
 

I think are better off looking to trade Larnach  (poor defender no speed, trouble staying healthy) who likely has similar value and making Castro the mostly everyday LFer.  
 

Then if the Twins want to Castro would likely have greater value at the trade deadline due to defensive flexibility.  
 

Moving Castro would put a big reliance on Michael Helman and likely Will Holland who haven’t stayed healthy or hit in the majors at all. 
 

I am ok with moving Castro because of his value and impending free agency.  But I think you would have to get significantly more than a middle reliever. 

Yeah, MIL & SEA could really use Castro but there is one other team that needs Castro even more. & that is MN! Castro was the Twins' MVP for a reason! & that is because MN gets hurt a lot at the premium positions. Trading away Castro would be a big mistake because we have no one in-house that can take his place. You can't find in FA, & if you could he'd be too expensive. & no one who had one on their team they would normally not be stupid enough to trade him. If we need a salary dump trade Paddack & forget about Castro. I'd be interested in (MIL) Jefferson Quero but would rather use INFer Julien instead.

34 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

I don't think the M's are trading a first round pick from 2 years ago for a utility IF no matter how highly we think of Castro.

I agree which is why I was initially thinking this was a  proposal that could greatly benefit the Twins down the road. It is an idea that might have merit in another time. However, the Twins need to spend their time thinking about 2025, not rebuilding. I like Peete though.

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

The Twins are in win-now mode with several probable holes in the lineup. Castro is a valuable player. Trade proposals should take both of those things into consideration.

I am not convinced this team is in win-now mode.  Win-now teams either increase salary or make decisions that are not aways in the best for long term interests.  I think this team is in stuck-in-the-mud mode until they have a better idea of what ownership wants.

Because of that, management does not know which way to go.  Improve the team or tear it down.  This basically kills any deal that has a whiff of impact.

That being said, here we have another article looking to trade a young, cheap, starting caliber position player for a RP.  I don't have the words...

The mariners are not trading for castro , they want hitters that don't strike out  , If I remember correctly  , castro struck out 150 plus ...

The twins need to fill holes , I wait and see on the FO's creative moves ...

Better get something exciting Going for the fans at twins fest ...

12 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

The mariners are not trading for castro , they want hitters that don't strike out  , If I remember correctly  , castro struck out 150 plus ...

The twins need to fill holes , I wait and see on the FO's creative moves ...

Better get something exciting Going for the fans at twins fest ...

They signed LHRP Anthony Misiewicz yesterday. What more could you want?

2 hours ago, JBK said:

Why is Castro even a trade subject?  

Welcome to Twins Daily. You must have missed that pretty much any player has had their name as trade discussions.  Will it happen? Probably bot.  So why all the articles? People need to know what will never happen 

Count me among those who believe Castro had his best half year last season.  Trade him.

Castro is uniquely valuable to the Twins as they have a history of lots of injuries and there are performance concerns across a number of positions in our lineup.  Castro goes a long way towards mitigating these problems.  I do understand why some people would want to move him because he will not be around next year.  If they are struggling at next year’s deadline I would deal along with several others.

I could see Castro traded but likely he would need to go to a team no paying attention to payroll. So, although neither trade is per say bad. Both of them are teams that struggle with payroll restrictions.  Mets (of course), Yankees and teams like the Braves or maybe Baltimore make more sense. Solid ideas but post RSN it may not work.

7 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Hudson is 27 and threw 9 MLB innings prior to last year. Maybe he's a breakout, but I think it's just as likely, if not more likely, that he's a flash in the pan. Looks like his fastball only goes 90-91 MPH and he was also DFA'd by the Dodgers this time last year. The Dodgers aren't perfect, but they're pretty close; if they didn't believe in him, I'm not sure I'd want to.

I would add that he was a minor league free agent after 2022 also. His 2024 BABIP was .148. His swinging strike rate of 9.3% would have been the lowest amount the Twins bullpen last year other a few pitchers that pitched very little.. Overt was 9.9% and Richards was 9.4%.

On 1/16/2025 at 4:07 AM, Cody Christie said:

He was among the NL’s best left-handed relievers, and the Twins clearly need a dominant lefty.

That poor rate doesn’t fit with the claim of being among the best left handed relievers in the NL. Relievers are put in too many situations where it is really helpful to get a swinging strike. A .148 BABIP was extremely helpful last year but not sustainable to this year.