Willi Castro has been among the best success stories in recent Minnesota Twins history. They picked him up off the Detroit Tigers scrap heap and turned him into an All-Star. Playing even better this season, and in the final year of arbitration, it was all but assumed he was gone.

The Chicago Cubs have acquired veteran utility player Willi Castro from the Minnesota Twins, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday afternoon ahead of the trade deadline.

They made their first maneuver to address that part of the roster Wednesday night by acquiring right-hander Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals, and they obtained 35-year-old reliever Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday morning.

The Chicago Cubs bolstered their pitching staff ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline by adding right-handers Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals and Andrew Kittredge from the Baltimore Orioles

MILWAUKEE -- In the midst of a heavyweight battle for first place in the National League Central, the Chicago Cubs are still scouring the landscape for help before Thursday's MLB trade deadline. On their wish list: two starters, a reliever, a potential upgrade at third base and perhaps a backup center fielder.

July 31st was supposed to be a day the Chicago Cubs upgrade their roster to put together a World Series run. Sadly, the Cubs hardly made any trade moves to improve the roster. The Cubs traded for utility player Willi Castro and two mediocre pitchers in Michael Soroko and Andrew Kittredge.