Veteran free agent signing bets on Rockies future: 'I know this team is gonna be great”

Ringing endorsements of the Colorado Rockies have been rare commodities for the better part of seven years now.

Since their last postseason appearance in 2018, the team has been a mess — finishing last in the NL West five of the past seven years, grinding through three straight 100-loss seasons, and capping it all off by trading away star third baseman Nolan Arenado in 2021.

Hope has been hard to come by for the team lately, but Colorado took a significant step forward by hiring Paul DePodesta as President of Baseball Operations and Josh Byrnes as the new General Manager.

Between them, the two have orchestrated a series of calculated offseason moves, bolstering depth and competition throughout the starting rotation and multiple position groups while prioritizing positional flexibility.

Willi Castro is one of their new multi-position players.

Castro began his career as an international free agent signing with the Cleveland Indians before spending four seasons with the Tigers from 2019 to 2022, where he played primarily at shortstop and second base.

The 2024 season marked his true breakout, coming off a non-roster invitation with the Minnesota Twins the previous year. Over 158 games, he posted a .247 average, 12 home runs, 60 RBI, 138 hits, and 14 stolen bases.

He made the All-Star team and was a Gold Glove finalist at the utility position.

Castro struggled to make his mark in 2025, shuttling between the Twins and Cubs while posting a .226 average in 120 games. A shoulder injury that landed him on the Injured List didn't help matters.

Castro's 2-year, $12.8 million contract this offseason was about more than just getting on the field. He genuinely believes in what this team is trying to build.

Colorado has no shortage of reasons for optimism, with a prospect pool headlined by Ethan Holliday, Charlie Condon, and Cole Carrigg, while proven contributors like Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman continue pushing to reach new heights in their development.

2026 is a rebuilding year, plain and simple. The club is inking short-term deals with veterans to steady the ship while the younger players finds their footing. Beyond their on-field contributions, the veterans are expected to mentor the younger guys and help fast-track their growth.