The Colorado Rockies have signed former All-Star utility player Willi Castro to a two-year contract.

As reported by MLB Network’s veteran journalist Jon Heyman, the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a two-year free agent deal with utility man Willi Castro, with the team yet to make an official announcement.

At 29 years old, Castro just came off a down season, playing for both the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago Cubs—the latter acquired him from Minnesota on July 31 in exchange for two minor leaguers. He is expected to bring experience to the Rockies’ young infield group. Last season, the Rockies’ infield featured rookies Kyle Karros (third base), Ryan Ritter (second base), and Blaine Crim (first base), with Troy Johnston, who debuted last year with the Miami Marlins, also able to cover first base and outfield positions.

Additionally, Tyler Freeman, primarily a right fielder, was originally an infielder during his time in the Cleveland Guardians’ farm system. Acquired last spring training in the Nolan Jones trade, Freeman played second base early and late in last season. As a switch hitter, Castro helps balance the Rockies’ infield, which currently leans toward right-handed batters; among the aforementioned players, only Johnston bats left-handed.

After reaching a career highlight with an All-Star selection in 2024, Castro’s 2025 stats declined: his batting average (.226) hit a low not seen since 2021, and his OPS (.679) and OPS+ (89) were the lowest since 2022. Nevertheless, the seven-year veteran recorded double-digit home runs (11) for the second consecutive year, continuing the milestone he first achieved in 2024 (12 homers).

Despite an overall slump offensively, Castro had a bright stretch from June 2 to 20, hitting .373 with a 1.049 OPS over 17 games, including six multi-hit contests (two with three hits). Before being traded to Chicago, his offensive numbers suggested he might surpass his 2024 performance with the Twins, where he posted a .743 OPS and 104 OPS+, both above league average in 86 games. However, after joining the Cubs, his production dropped sharply, batting just .170 over 34 games and 110 plate appearances.

Defensively, Castro is versatile: he has played the most games at second base (206), but also has over 100 games at left field (164), shortstop (161), and third base (105). In 2025, he appeared at all four positions, spending most of his time in the outfield. His addition provides more rest opportunities for the Rockies’ primary shortstop, Ezequiel Tovar, who struggled with injuries last season.

However, despite his positional flexibility, Castro’s defensive skills are limited: his 2025 Outs Above Average (OAA) was -9, ranking near the bottom of the league. Nonetheless, he possesses a strong arm (better than 86% of MLB players) and above-average speed, both valuable assets.