A week ago, in Houston’s baseball scene, Joe Espada stood in the dugout with his arms folded while ponderously looking at a lineup card that seemed more like a challenge than a strategy guide to victory. With Yordan Alvarez lacking and no left-handed hitter in the mix, the Astros team managed to clinch a victory, but not without revealing every weakness in their roster depth. Meanwhile, up in New York, Yankees execs watched another frustrating Oswald Peraza at-bat end with a weak groundout, further confirming what’s felt inevitable for weeks: reinforcements are needed.

That’s where Minnesota Twins utilityman Willi Castro enters the conversation, and possibly, the trade block. As the Twins spiral, going 1–9 in their last 10 and falling to 37–40, Castro stands out as one of the few consistent contributors. The switch-hitting All-Star is slashing .280/.362/.456 with seven home runs and a 133 wRC+ across 56 games. A pending free agent on a small-market roster heading nowhere fast, he’s become one of the most logical and intriguing trade chips ahead of the deadline.

For Houston, the appeal is obvious. With a glaring void from the left side of the plate, the Astros rank dead last in MLB in both lefty plate appearances and OPS. Castro’s ability to handle right-handed pitching and slot in across multiple positions solves more than one problem. He can limit Mauricio Dubón’s exposure at second base, spell Jose Altuve in left field, and even offer insurance in center.

But it’s not just the Astros circling.

The Yankees, too, have eyes on Castro. Their once-deep infield now feels thin with DJ LeMahieu aging and Peraza flailing. Oswaldo Cabrera’s injury hasn’t helped, and Aaron Boone’s bench options have grown too short for a team with October aspirations. Sources say New York explored Castro in offseason talks and could now reignite that interest, especially with Minnesota motivated to move salary.

The looming battle between the Astros and Yankees, not just on the field, but in the trade market, could shape the AL playoff picture. With Castro’s name rising on contender radars, it’s no longer a matter of “if” he gets moved, but where, and how much better that team becomes because of it.

How Twins star’s injury could complicate trade talks

Just as Willi Castro’s trade value was peaking, his body threw a wrench into the equation. The Minnesota Twins scratched the switch-hitting All-Star from Sunday’s lineup due to right wrist soreness, an issue he’s reportedly been dealing with since Thursday. While initial X-rays came back negative, the discomfort hasn’t subsided. According to MLB.com, Castro is expected to miss at least one or two more games, and there’s growing concern he could land on the injured list if the wrist doesn’t respond quickly.

That uncertainty hits at the worst possible time. Castro has proven to be an asset for the struggling Twins team with his skills and consistent productivity on the field. His capability to switch hit and excel in utility roles has attracted interest from teams such as the Yankees and Astros. However, as the trade deadline approaches in a month’s time, potential suitors may hold back their pursuit of him unless he quickly recovers to full health.

Front offices tend to shy away from wrist injuries in hitters, given how often they sap power and linger beyond IL stints. Even if this proves minor, rival GMs may use it as leverage to lower their offers or prioritize more “sure-thing” acquisitions. For the Twins, who are fading from playoff contention and likely sellers, any injury setback to Castro doesn’t just affect their lineup today.

It may very well undercut one of their most valuable bargaining chips come July 31.