Let's Get Specific About a Willi Castro Contract Extension

I can't think of a worse decision than extending Castro.  Twins have a year of control left, and there's an argument to be made to trade him.  Keaschall and Eeles hold the same positional value and will likely hit and be ready in 2025 or 2026.  Lee will be the backup shortstop option.

What Castro makes next year is the amount he'd likely have to be paid for however many years the Twins would extend him.  If the Twins aren't increasing payroll, this is the type of player they could trade if the others are ready.  Unfortunately, Keaschall/Eeles may not be ready for next year.  They could be, though.  Or they may have to be.

If it doesn't stunt their payroll, let Castro play out his last year.  If it does, trade him.  Or trade him to open up the money he makes to help elsewhere.

15 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

I can't think of a worse decision than extending Castro.  Twins have a year of control left, and there's an argument to be made to trade him.  Keaschall and Eeles hold the same positional value and will likely hit and be ready in 2025 or 2026.  Lee will be the backup shortstop option.

What Castro makes next year is the amount he'd likely have to be paid for however many years the Twins would extend him.  If the Twins aren't increasing payroll, this is the type of player they could trade if the others are ready.  Unfortunately, Keaschall/Eeles may not be ready for next year.  They could be, though.  Or they may have to be.

If it doesn't stunt their payroll, let Castro play out his last year.  If it does, trade him.  Or trade him to open up the money he makes to help elsewhere.

I tend to agree. The Twins have a bunch of young middle infielders coming that could easily become super utility players like Castro. Let 2025 play out and then go from there.

2020 he finished 4th for ROY with a OPS+ of 153. This year an All-star with a career best 112 OPS+ ???

34 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

2020 he finished 4th for ROY with a OPS+ of 153. This year an All-star with a career best 112 OPS+ ???

2020 wasn't a real season and the wonky numbers across the league reflect that.

1 hour ago, Jocko87 said:

He's not going to get 10m AND steal playing time from Lee, Julien, Keaschall et al.

If Castro is "stealing" playing time from Julien and Keaschall then Buxton is stealing playing time from Keirsey, Correa is stealing playing time from Diego Castillo and Joe Ryan is stealing playing time from Randy Dobnak.

Willi will be part of a hopefully a division winning team, and maybe more, in 2025 and then he'll cash in with another team. He's been a great signing and has been a big part of recent successes but with the Twins payroll crunch and the middle infield pipeline, he doesn't fit into their long term plans.

Like the article stated an arbitration award of $6M is likely. $12M is Jeff McNeil / Nico Hoerner money so I guess that's possible for his free agent seasons. That would make a 3 year / $30M contract fair but still tradeable if one of the minor leaguers improves and they want to deal him later.

3 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

I like Castro. 

But he seems like Arraez-style trade bait. If he nets a López-like starter in a budget-neutral trade, go for it. 

I don't think it's likely they will be able to get a cheap #2 starter for a good utility infielder with one year of control remaining.

Castro will be a really interesting case study this offseason to see where the Twins stand financially... I think they should look to extend him, but nothing too crazy.  Something like 2/18 with a third year team option of $12m.  Best of both worlds contract.

That being said, back to reality.  They Twins will let him go to arbitration next year.  90% chance he will not be a Twin in 2026.

11 hours ago, twinstalker said:

I can't think of a worse decision than extending Castro.  Twins have a year of control left, and there's an argument to be made to trade him.  Keaschall and Eeles hold the same positional value and will likely hit and be ready in 2025 or 2026.  Lee will be the backup shortstop option.

What Castro makes next year is the amount he'd likely have to be paid for however many years the Twins would extend him.  If the Twins aren't increasing payroll, this is the type of player they could trade if the others are ready.  Unfortunately, Keaschall/Eeles may not be ready for next year.  They could be, though.  Or they may have to be.

If it doesn't stunt their payroll, let Castro play out his last year.  If it does, trade him.  Or trade him to open up the money he makes to help elsewhere.

I would like to see them lock up Castro, and then use the Keaschall/Eeales of the world in trades.   Prospects sometimes have more value this way, and we have plenty.   

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If Castro is "stealing" playing time from Julien and Keaschall then Buxton is stealing playing time from Keirsey, Correa is stealing playing time from Diego Castillo and Joe Ryan is stealing playing time from Randy Dobnak.

Julien/Keaschall should be dangled for SP in the off season.

IMHO Willi Castro was essentially our team MVP a year ago and continues to be an important puzzle piece that Rocco can fit into any number of places like no one else on any roster in the Twins system.  Extend him please.

Team MVP for 10 million a season?  What a deal!  That is the contract extension I was thinking he could get.  His offense is good.  but his real value is being solid defensively at so many positions including CF.  (Buxton insurance) He prevents and injury from being devastating. Thats what makes him so valuable.  As a starter at a position he can be solid or adequate but if someone gets hurt like Lewis he keeps the Twins from going from a 170 OPS+ hitter to an 80 OPS+ hitter with a 110 OPS + hitter and with good defense.  both the defense and above average bat have value. or in CF we go from a 135 OPS + to 110 OPS + and from best defense CF to above average defense is CF.  that is an acceptable downgrade during injury vs a terrible defensive CF or one that cant hit.  

I don’t know about an extension but what I do know is the Twins have nobody that can replace his versatility. Names like Martin Keascall have been thrown out there. They have zero chance of replacing Castros value. They can’t even play one position much less five. An extension is a tough decision but let’s not pretend that Castro can be easily replaced. He may not be able to be replaced at all. 

Willi makes all the injuries the Twins have suffered the past two seasons be not nearly as bad as they would be if he wasn't there.  Extend him.

49 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Castro is looking at a 5-6 year deal at $100MM+ easy in free agency if he puts up another 4 WAR full season value in 2025.

Utility players do not command a premium in free agency. Bogaerts and Marcus Semien got $25M a season. Bregman got $20M. Chris Taylor gets $15M. I think $12-$15M is top-end of the market for Willi Castro.

Castro is a true super-utility player. A player that any serious & intelligent team like LAD would highly value & lock up as soon as possible. IMO Castro should have extended last offseason very reasonably having a non-Boris agent. His valuable versatility adds quality depth all over the field, he even plays a very good ss but he's over-extended there & over time it wears him down. His offense is impressive that can be utilized from both sides of the plate.  

He adds a new dimension to the Twins' base-running. Together with all this, he adds valuable durability which is a rare quality these days. Even though he made the All-Star game he's underrated & should be a very reasonable extension for a tight budget.

With the payroll limitations the Twins will have to endure for the next 3 seasons, money should only be going to actual October difference makers--that is not Willi Castro, barring the reality that theoretically any player can get hot for 15 games in October.

Willi Castro will turn 28 less than a month into next season, meaning that any years you extend him for will be post-prime.  With Correa locked in at SS, and Lewis/Miranda/Julien/Lee/Keaschall all younger and less expensive in the IF, and Wallner/Larnach/Emma/Jenkins all younger and less expensive in the OF, Castro is a luxury, not a necessity.

If the Twins are going to actually extend one of their arb candidates, I would put Lewis/Ryan/Ober/Duran/Jax well ahead of Castro on the priority list, and probably throw Miranda and Alcala on there as well.