DENVER -- The Rockies’ Hunter Goodman and Willi Castro earned their hugs the old-fashioned way on Saturday night.
With the Trade Deadline set for Monday at 4 p.m. MT, folks keep their eye on games to see players being removed from games at weird times and receiving hugs as they’re informed they’ve been traded. It happened at Coors Field on Saturday, when Royals outfielder Lane Thomas was dealt to the Braves before the bottom of the fifth.
But for Saturday night’s 12-6 victory over the Royals, and maybe beyond, the Rockies can keep Goodman and Castro in warm embraces.
Goodman homered in the third and seventh innings for his 11th multihomer game of the year and extended his season total to 33 to break his own club record for homers by a primary catcher.
The homers, off Royals starter Luinder Avila for three runs during a six-run third inning and off Alex Lange in the seventh, were on offspeed pitches that were low. But they ran into Goodman’s strength -- pull-side damage.
“They were closer to me -- kind of down, but more down-and-in than down-and-away,” Goodman said. “I feel like I can handle the ball closer to me.”
Manager Warren Schaeffer said, “Goody’s had a four-game stretch where he hasn’t been that good. But it’s always right around the corner.”
Castro went deep for the third time in his last four games, his sixth in his last 15, and his 12th for the season.
“I’m just trying to have good at-bats and just hit barrels -- keep it simple,” Castro said.
Both players are worth watching as the Deadline nears.
With Goodman, 26, considered a cornerstone player and under club control through 2029, the Rockies’ asking price in terms of Major League players and prospects could be prohibitive. Going 4-for-5 with five RBIs on Saturday didn’t hurt his value.
“Watever happens, happens -- I know right now I enjoy playing baseball for the Colorado Rockies,” he said. “I love the guys in this clubhouse and love playing for Schaeff.”
Castro, 29, joined the Rockies in January on a two-year, $12.8 million deal. Moved from the Twins to the Cubs at last year’s Deadline, Castro is the type of player who could change addresses. But he also has been a multi-position, switch-hitting piece with valuable experience for the Rockies this season -- and his being signed through next season means the Rockies theoretically can ask more of a potential trading partner.
However, Castro’s ability to play all over the infield and outfield plus switch-hit fits Schaeffer’s strategy of jumping ahead of situations. For example, on Saturday, Schaeffer started Cole Carrigg -- who has played mostly outfield this year -- at shortstop instead of struggling regular Ezequiel Tovar. But Tovar received a bit of a 25th birthday present with some defensive work in the late innings as Carrigg moved to the outfield.
The club has been versatile all year. But the addition of Carrigg two months ago and the re-adding of center fielder Brenton Doyle, reinstated on Friday after missing 2 1/2 months because of oblique and groin injuries, increases the talent level at Schaeffer’s disposal.
Schaeffer has appreciated Castro.
“I talk about Willi a lot,” Schaeffer said. “His at-bats have been good from both sides of the plate. Another big homer tonight.
“He’s been great for us, not only hitting homers but moving the line, taking his walks, playing great defense.”
It’s a team Castro enjoys playing for, even if he isn’t sure for how long.
“We have the team,” Castro said. “Most of the games we lost were by one or two runs. But that’s something that’s happened. We can’t do anything about that. We just have to get to playing ball the way we have the last two games.”
The Rockies will not be blamed for giving hugs all around. Saturday improved them to 44-67, meaning they surpassed last year’s full-season win total (43-119) – not that the occasion holds more than trivial value to Goodman.
“We should never be at last year’s win total,” he said. “We should never be close to that at the end of the season, so passing that at this point is fine. I think we can do more.”