BREAKING: Rockies Land Surprise Bat from Minnesota Twins in Bold Move

The Rockies have signed right-hander from Minnesota Twins, as reported by Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. The deal includes an invitation for Castillo, who turns 31 next month, to participate in Colorado’s big league training camp.

Castillo is best remembered for his productive five-year stint in the Rays’ and Mariners’ bullpens from 2018 to 2022. During that time, he posted a 3.12 ERA, a 28.1% strikeout rate, a 50.7% ground ball rate, and an 8.9% walk rate across 259 2/3 innings in 250 appearances. However, his 2023 season began poorly, leading the Mariners to remove him from their 40-man roster after just eight games (8 2/3 innings). Castillo spent the rest of the year at Triple-A before electing free agency.

Following a minor league deal with the Rangers last winter and a brief stint with the Twins, Castillo’s 2024 season saw him move frequently between designations and minor league contracts. He made only 10 MLB appearances for the Twins, recording a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings.

Control issues have been a major factor in Castillo’s struggles, as his walk rate has spiked to 14.92% over 84 1/3 Triple-A innings in the past two seasons and 17.9% in his 18 2/3 innings at the MLB level. A drop in velocity also contributed to his challenges in 2023, though he rebounded with an improved fastball velocity of 95.9 mph in 2024, up from 93.8 mph.

Given Castillo’s recent success during his peak years, teams remain interested in his potential. For the Rockies, his ground-ball tendencies could make him an asset in the hitter-friendly environment of Coors Field, provided he earns a spot on the active roster.