Willi Castro is the Ultimate Problem-Solver for 2025 Chicago Cubs

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Image courtesy of © Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs have had 17 players record at least five plate appearances in 2025. Of those 17, eight fall below the threshold of a 100 wRC+ that signifies average performance. Two of those eight are starters (Dansby Swanson, Matt Shaw), and next on the list is Moisés Ballesteros, who has all of 20 plate appearances to his name. It probably isn't too difficult an exercise to predict the next five names you'd see on that list. 

Two of the five are no longer in the organization (Gage Workman and Nicky Lopez). Another (Vidal Bruján) is in limbo, after the Cubs designated him for assignment earlier this week. That leaves Justin Turner and Jon Berti. Across those five players, you're looking at 204 plate appearances for the year. The average wRC+? About 42. Even if you wanted to isolate it specifically to the three who have been on the roster most of the year, you're still looking at a 51 aggregate wRC+. 

This is all to say that the Cubs' bench has been, objectively, quite bad in. Catcher is obviously an entirely different conversation, as Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya, and Reese McGuire have averaged a 126 wRC+ in an occasionally ambiguous timeshare. But as far as those who do most of their work in fair territory, it's been difficult to rationalize the playing of any of the team's bench players. Luckily, to this point, Craig Counsell hasn't been forced into using his bench all that much. 

In any case, enter Willi Castro. 

Aside from a bopper like Eugenio Suárez, Castro represented perhaps the most appealing position player for the Cubs ahead of the 2025 deadline, especially when you consider the context of the roster. It's not as if the team had many spots where they had flexibility to upgrade. They were set across the infield, set behind the plate, and set at three of the four infield spots. Matt Shaw's first-half struggles with the stick provided one of the only lanes for a potential upgrade. Even there, though, it was sort of Suárez or bust, as the third base market didn't feature much upside beyond him.

Castro, though, represents exactly the type of player that this roster needs: a versatile bench piece who brings actual value with the bat. 

With Minnesota this year, Castro has appeared at six different positions (seven, if you want to include the single inning he pitched). His positional totals on the infield read: 224 innings at second base, 74 innings at third, and 26 at shortstop. Across the three outfield spots, he's gone for 252 innings in left field and 156 in right, with just one inning in center. It may be worth noting, however, that he received a much more sizable chunk of time last year at the two spots where he appeared the least for the Twins this year. In 2024, Castro was at short for over 460 innings and spent over 200 in center. 

That Minnesota chose to roll him out on fewer occasions at those two spots speaks to his defensive shortcomings at the two premium positions. His Fielding Run Value at shortstop for his career (1,123 innings) reads -3, while his FRV in center (594.2 innings) checks in at -2. Ultimately, neither position is where we'll see Castro ply his trade for the Cubs with any sort of frequency, given the presence of Dansby Swanson('s glove) and Pete Crow-Armstrong at the two spots, respectively. That lends some clarity as to how Castro could best be utilized in this lineup. 

A central concept for Craig Counsell will be to run Castro out at third base. While Shaw has ascended since the All-Star break, Counsell has shown he likes to give his rookie the occasional off day, depending on the matchup. With Castro as a switch-hitter, there's plenty of potential for him to get in on the action as a left-handed complement to Shaw. It wouldn't be a traditional platoon, but could prove a solid setup. What you lose on the defensive side—though Castro was a much better defender there in the two years before this—you get back at the plate. While Castro doesn't offer as much impact as a lefty swinger, his keen approach has resulted in an 11.5% walk rate in 2025, so you're getting some value on the on-base side. 

In terms of starting potential, there's also an argument to be made for regular work in left field. If the eye test wasn't enough to know about Ian Happ's lackluster production vs. southpaws, his 104 wRC+ and .122 isolated power certainly are. Castro stands as a contrast, offering a 131 wRC+ and .222 ISO against such pitchers. Counsell has already shown a willingness to move Happ down in the lineup based on production, so it stands to reason that he'd be willing to do so in matchup plays. 

Those are two very different scenarios that offer very clear opportunities for Castro to work his way into the lineup. And those are just the starting versions. There are a number of ways to get creative, besides. Either of the above scenarios late in the game? Maybe Castro gives you a better shot at a desirable outcome. A pinch-running situation? Castro has nine steals (14 in 2024). An unfavorable Dansby Swanson matchup during one of Swanson's periods of offensive turmoil? Castro might give you a little more there, too, even if that one (wherein you hit him for Swanson, have him take over at the keystone, and flip Nico Hoerner over to shortstop) might be a stretch.

The beauty of a player like Castro is that you can insert him almost anywhere, at any point, and receive competence in return. That's exactly what the Cubs have lacked out of their bench all year. In Castro, they not only acquired competence, but gained the chance to spread it just about everywhere.

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2025 and hopefully beyond.