The Houston Astros will surely be aggressive at the trade deadline, and will look to beef up their lineup as they push towards another deep postseason run.
One name that has been recently linked to the Astros is Minnesota Twins utility man Willi Castro. The Twins have been sliding further and further away from the AL Playoff picture.
Castro is hitting .254 with 10 home runs and a .765 OPS this season. Last season, he was an All-Star after hitting .247 with 12 home runs and a .717 OPS. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic while the team has also shown interest in Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez, Castro could present a better fit for the team given his versatility.
“Suárez may be the sexier name,” Rome said. “but Minnesota Twins utilityman Willi Castro is also of interest to the Astros and a far better fit for their roster.”
“Both Castro and Suárez are rentals being sought after by a bevy of contending teams, again inviting wonder if the Astros can win a bidding war against clubs with deeper farm systems,” Rome added.
Castro really lives up to his reputation as a super-utility player. This season, he has appeared 41 games at second base, 13 at third base, five at shortstop, 35 in left field, one in center field, and 31 in right field. Should the Astros acquire him, they can plug-and-play him anywhere on the diamond, while also having an above-average bat in the lineup every day.