One of many worst-kept secrets and techniques in baseball this winter is the Mariners’ want for infield assist. If the 2024 season have been to begin right this moment, the membership would have J.P. Crawford locked in at shortstop however little certainty round the remainder of the diamond. First base would possible be occupied by a platoon of Luke Raley and Tyler Locklear, the latter of whom struggled badly in a 16-game cup of espresso with Seattle final yr. Second and third base can be even dicier. Dylan Moore is able to taking part in each positions and could possibly be an on a regular basis participant for the membership after showing in 135 video games final yr however could also be higher suited to a brilliant utility function given his spectacular versatility and struggles towards same-handed pitching. Ryan Bliss, Austin Shenton, and Leo Rivas are all younger and intriguing hitters who made their huge league debuts in 2024, however none of them bought even 100 plate appearances within the majors final yr and can be dangerous to depend on in full-time roles.
That apparent want for an infielder or two has led the Mariners to contemplate making a transfer they’ve lengthy resisted pulling the set off on: buying and selling from their vaunted beginning rotation. There’s an argument to be made that Seattle boasts one of the best beginning rotation in baseball. George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo kind the form of confirmed, controllable corps of younger starters that the majority groups can solely dream of creating, and veteran right-hander Luis Castillo has served as a veteran anchor for the membership’s rotation ever since he was acquired from the Reds following the 2022 commerce deadline. Whereas the Mariners nonetheless appear unlikely to half with any of the kids of their rotation, they’ve begun to a minimum of hearken to gives on Castillo, who has drawn curiosity across the league due to his pretty reasonably priced contract and constantly above common outcomes.
That’s to not say a Castillo commerce comes with out potential obstacles. Whereas the right-hander has pitched nicely throughout his two full seasons in Seattle, he’s not posted the identical front-of-the-rotation outcomes he flashed earlier in his profession with Cincinnati. After posting a 3.46 ERA (132 ERA+) with a near-matching 3.43 FIP from 2019 to 2022, Castillo’s 3.48 ERA (110 ERA+) has remained stagnant the final two years regardless of a a lot friendlier residence ballpark for pitching whereas his 3.86 FIP is a noticeable step backwards from the sooner days of his profession and his fastball velocity has misplaced a tick or two since he arrived in Washington.
Apart from these potential considerations for would-be suitors, Castillo additionally wields a full no-trade clause and will block any commerce if he so chooses. One remaining wrinkle from the Mariners’ perspective is their lack of beginning pitching depth behind a wonderful prime 5 rotation items; Emerson Hancock would possible be the following man up if Castillo was dealt, however he struggled in 12 begins final yr and there’s just about no huge league prepared beginning depth behind him within the group. That would make a workforce that might provide a younger starter along with infield assist a very enticing commerce associate for Seattle.
So, which golf equipment are finest suited to swinging a deal for the right-hander? Let’s check out 9 potential choices, listed alphabetically between three tiers:
Greatest Suits:
Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have had a tough offseason to this point, as they’ve struck out on each Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes in free company. Their greatest addition thus far is infielder AndrĂ©s GimĂ©nez, who they swung a deal to accumulate from the Guardians through the Winter Conferences. With that mentioned, they’re identified to be available in the market for beginning pitching assist, and Castillo would kind a strong veteran nucleus within the rotation alongside Kevin Gausman, JosĂ© BerrĂos, and Chris Bassitt. What’s extra, the Jays have quite a lot of fascinating younger infielders like Davis Schneider, Leo JimĂ©nez, and Will Wagner who could possibly be of curiosity to the Mariners.
Giants: The Giants made a giant splash simply earlier than the Winter Conferences started by signing Willy Adames however be part of Toronto in being a prime reported suitor for Burnes who missed out on the right-hander when he agreed to a cope with Arizona late Friday evening. Castillo can be a wonderful starter to pair with Logan Webb on the entrance of San Francisco’s rotation, and the Giants have beforehand expressed a willingness to deal first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. this winter. Wade, 31 on New Yr’s Day, has posted a strong .258/.376/.401 (120 wRC+) with a unbelievable 15% stroll charge over the previous two seasons.
Orioles: Because the workforce Burnes pitched for in 2024 previous to reaching free company, the Orioles be part of the Blue Jays and Giants within the hunt for a top-of-the-rotation arm now that he’s departed for the desert. The necessity for a front-end arm in Baltimore is probably extra acute than it’s anyplace else on this record, as 2023’s workers ace Kyle Bradish isn’t anticipated to pitch within the first half of 2025 following UCL surgical procedure final yr. Castillo would slot in entrance of Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez for the Orioles, providing some much-needed stability to the Baltimore rotation. In return, the Orioles may provide a participant from their surplus of first base choices equivalent to Ryan Mountcastle and even perhaps add in a younger starter like Cade Povich to assist change Castillo within the Seattle rotation. Notably, the Orioles are among the many groups which have reportedly inquired after the right-hander this winter.
Subsequent Tier Down:
Braves: The Braves watched each Max Fried and Charlie Morton depart from their rotation without spending a dime company final month however have but to make a major transfer this offseason exterior of buying and selling Jorge Soler away to the Angels. Including an arm like Castillo to the combo behind Chris Sale and (ultimately) Spencer Strider would provide the membership one other high-end starter whereas additionally offering safety to a rotation filled with ceaselessly injured hurlers. Atlanta doesn’t have a lot to supply in the best way of infield assist exterior of prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. however may assist complement the Mariners rotation by providing a controllable starter like Bryce Elder or AJ Smith-Shawver as a part of the return.
Cubs: The Cubs have already been related to Castillo this winter and are identified to be available in the market for a front-end starter to pair with Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga, however the membership’s current commerce for Kyle Tucker has seemingly difficult the match between the 2 sides. The Mariners are identified to have had curiosity in Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner this winter, and the Cubs beforehand may half with Hoerner and change him on the keystone with Matt Shaw. Since then, nonetheless, the Cubs shipped third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Astros in trade for Tucker. With Shaw now penciled in as Paredes’s alternative on the scorching nook, the Cubs could also be much less inclined to half with Hoerner to bolster the Mariners’ infield. Whereas a younger starter equivalent to Javier Assad or Jordan Wicks may assist facilitate a commerce, it’s exhausting to think about a deal for Castillo getting accomplished that doesn’t ship some form of infield assist again to Seattle.
Crimson Sox: The Crimson Sox are additionally among the many groups identified to have mentioned Castillo with Seattle, and the membership particularly tried to swing a commerce involving him, Triston Casas, and Masataka Yoshida that was ultimately shut down by the Mariners. It’s exhausting to think about Boston parting with Casas in a straight one-for-one swap for Castillo, which may make discovering a match between the 2 sides tough. Maybe a deal may nonetheless be had that sends a lesser infield piece equivalent to Vaughn Grissom or David Hamilton to Seattle alongside a younger starter like Kutter Crawford, however now that the Crimson Sox have introduced Walker Buehler into the rotation different golf equipment could also be extra motivated to get a deal accomplished with Seattle than Boston is.
Longer Pictures:
Dodgers: The Dodgers should not identified to have curiosity in Castillo however are all the time a menace to improve their roster and will definitely profit from including a gradual, innings-eating arm like him to the cavalcade of high-octane arms with sturdiness questions that at the moment make up their beginning rotation. Even so, nonetheless, the Dodgers have little to supply from their infield combine in the meanwhile. Maybe Gavin Lux could possibly be a serviceable platoon associate for Moore at second base, however even including a younger starter equivalent to Landon Knack alongside Lux appears unlikely to entice the Mariners to half methods with Castillo.
Mets: The Mets are among the many groups which were related to Castillo this winter, however they subsequently rounded out their rotation by including left-hander Sean Manaea. It’s a minimum of theoretically possible that the membership may add Castillo and push Clay Holmes out of their projected rotation and into the bullpen, however given the truth that New York explicitly signed Holmes to begin that might be a significant shock, even because the Mets have extra items equivalent to Brett Baty and Tylor Megill that might absolutely curiosity Seattle.
Tigers: Detroit may use a bona fide front-end arm to pair with Tarik Skubal subsequent season, and including mid-rotation veteran Alex Cobb didn’t precisely fill that want. The Tigers additionally not too long ago signed Gleyber Torres in a transfer that pushed teen Colt Keith to first base, seemingly leaving former first general decide Spencer Torkelson with no function within the majors. Torkelson can be a high-upside addition who’s positive to be intriguing to the Mariners as they seek for first base assist, nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not they would half with Castillo to land him or if the Tigers are fascinated with taking over the $72.45MM Castillo is assured over the following three seasons.
