MLB Trade Rumors: 3 Landing Spots For Mariners' Luis Castillo
After three straight seasons in Seattle with ERAs in the mid-3.00s, with solid WHIPs and strong strikeout rates, Luis Castillo has taken a step backward this season at the age of 33. He sports a 5.22 ERA.
Castillo has been bumped from the top 5 in the Mariners' rotation, bouncing back and forth to the bullpen.
But there's enough credit on his resume, with nine previous seasons of strong work at the top of pitching staffs, that teams should be looking to capitalize on the situation and nab him from the M's.
Insider Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio has suggested three landing spots, three teams that should be on the phone to Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto to try to swing a deal for Castillo.
- Baltimore Orioles
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Chicago White Sox
All three of those teams are looking for a boost in the rotation, as they either strive to hold onto a playoff spot, or to stay in the chase.
Orioles trading a bat to Seattle for Luis Castillo makes sense'
For the O's, we've seen this movie before. The Baltimore starting rotation needs a big-time veteran to help get the team to the next level. They refused to give Corbin Burnes the money in free agency after his All-Star season with them in 2024. Then they neglected the rotation again in each of the last two offseasons. They sit just a couple of games out of a Wild Card spot at this point in a weak American League; they have a chance to be competitive, but they need to improve the rotation. Still.
Bowden says with Baltimore's excess number of young promising bats, there should be a deal there to be made with Seattle. "Castillo to the Orioles for one of their bats. It makes sense. It does!"
The Cardinals and White Sox are both shocking entrants into the playoff picture this season. Both were thought to be in a rebuild situation, but the White Sox are battling for first place in the 'pillow fight' AL Central, while the Cardinals have a solid positioning at the top of the Wild Card standings in the NL.
Castillo has one year remaining on his deal after this one, at $22.7M. So, in all, it's about a $27M investment (including the rest of this season after the deadline).
"If I were running those three teams, I'd try to get Seattle to pay down some. But those teams need starting pitching bad enough, you should be able to trade him."
Despite Castillo's tough season, he has a history of strong showings in the postseason (2.25 ERA in six appearances, five starts), and would be worth the risk for any of the aforementioned teams to reach out for a deal.
