Willi

Castro

Castro is getting $6.4 million per season, which matches his 2025 salary in his final year of arbitration. If the Rockies treat him like a regular — and they don’t seem to the type to pay $6.4 million for a backup — then he’ll probably offer some value in deeper leagues. It will hinge on how much he runs; he’s totaled 24 steals the last two years after finishing with 33 in 2023 alone. But his average is due for a nice bump in Coors, and he’ll probably prove to be one of the team’s best options at the top of the lineup, as sad as that might be.

He’ll get $12.8 million, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Castro seemed in line for a one-year pact after cratering with the Cubs following a deadline deal, but the Rockies needed to commit a little extra, even for a position player who will be lucky to take advantage of Coors Field. The switch-hitting Castro figures to be an everyday player for Colorado, though he could continue to be deployed all over the place. He’s hit .244/.328/.386 with 32 homers and 57 steals in 1,498 plate appearances over the last three seasons. Unfortunately, though, 33 of those steals came in 2023, and he’s gone just 24-for-37 since. Still, with Coors backing him and maybe more steal attempts on a bad team, he could be a factor in mixed leagues.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 31-year-old slugger. Suzuki has been in a funk at the plate lately, slashing just .216/.355/.257 with zero homers, five RBI and a 20/16 K/BB ratio over 93 plate appearances in his last 21 ballgames. Perhaps a day off to clear his head will do some good. Willi Castro will start in his place in right field and will bat eighth for the Cubs against Zack Littell and the Reds on Saturday evening in Cincinnati.

Suzuki has been out of action for nearly one week at this juncture as he deals with an undisclosed illness. Cubs manager Craig Counsell revealed that he traveled with the club to Pittsburgh, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. It’ll be rookie slugger Moisés Ballesteros continuing to occupy the DH spot with versatile utility specialist Willi Castro patrolling right field in his absence. Hopefully there will be some clarity on his status at some point soon.

Suzuki has been out of action for nearly a week at this juncture due to an unspecified illness. It’ll be rookie slugger Moisés Ballesteros continuing to occupy the DH spot with versatile utility specialist Willi Castro patrolling right field. The fact he hasn’t been sent to the injured list offers some hope that he’ll be ready to return at some point this week.

Caissie remains in concussion protocol and will undergo further evaluation after experiencing symptoms following a collision with the right-field wall during Saturday’s game against the Rays. The timing is unfortunate for the 23-year-old top prospect since he figured to have an everyday opportunity in right field for at least the next couple days until Kyle Tucker (calf) is ready to return from the injured list. It’ll be Willi Castro taking over in right field in the meantime.

Willi Castro takes over at the hot corner in his absence.

Suzuki’s absence enables Chicago to give Kyle Tucker a break from right field at DH on Tuesday night with newly acquired utility specialist Willi Castro starting at his fourth different position in as many games since making his Cubs debut.

Michael Busch is also getting the night off against Reds lefty Nick Lodolo, which bumps Nico Hoerner into the leadoff spot. It appears to be a routine off day for Crow-Armstrong, who has made 11 consecutive starts in center field since missing a game back on July 21 due to a minor knee issue. It’ll be recently acquired Willi Castro taking over in center field on Monday night at Wrigley Field.

Castro will make his Cubs debut on Saturday afternoon with Nico Hoerner shifting over to cover shortstop with Dansby Swanson drawing a rare day off. The widely-held expectation is that Castro will spend the majority of the final two months at the hot corner over rookie Matt Shaw, who has shown some real signs of life recently, but might not be ready to play everyday on a true title contender.