MLB Rumors: Mets Targeting Reds Ace

Although Max Scherzer is seemingly just days away from a return, and Jacob deGrom is hopefully due back sometime after the All-Star Break, the New York Mets are still in the market for starting pitching. And according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, they're already snooping around the Cincinnati Reds' ace Luis Castillo.

The Mets are reportedly showing interest in trading for the Reds' Luis Castillo https://t.co/lALfh42ZfL pic.twitter.com/PmEr1e5lej

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 23, 2022

Castillo has been rumored to be on the Reds' trade block for what seems like years, now. But it wasn't until this year, when Cincinnati went all 'fire-sale' on us, that the possibility has become a real thing. 

The Mets are struggling to get healthy arms into the rotation, even aside from Scherzer and deGrom. Tylor Megill is on the IL for the second time this season, and Carlos Carrasco left his start on Wednesday with lower back pain. 

And then there's old saying around baseball: You can never have too much pitching. We're now just over five weeks away from the trade deadline (Aug. 2), and you can bet the Castillo rumors will be ramping up over the next month.

The former All-Star, he is in his 6th season with the Reds, and is currently sporting a 3.71 ERA, and a 1.13 WHIP, which is his best since his rookie season in 2017. He's striking out 8.6 per 9 innings, down from his usual K ratio, but he would make a strong high-end of the rotation piece for any contender. 

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