The Cubs are one of many groups who’ve spoken to the Mariners about Luis Castillo’s commerce availability, in keeping with Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of the Seattle Occasions. The depth of Chicago’s curiosity isn’t identified, or if this curiosity nonetheless exists now that the Cubs have already swung a blockbuster deal to land Kyle Tucker from the Astros. Castillo additionally has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he might veto issues solely if he doesn’t have curiosity in going to Chicago.
Because the Cubs have been identified to be in search of pitching, nonetheless, it could make sense that they’d no less than verify in on what appears to be an more and more accessible commerce candidate. Rumors have been swirling about Castillo’s availability in current days, as whereas Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has publicly downplayed the thought of buying and selling from Seattle’s rotation depth, it’s thought that Castillo may be essentially the most accessible of the beginning 5. The 32-year-old Castillo is no less than 5 years older than any of George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, or Bryce Miller, and far more costly — Castillo is owed $68.25MM in assured cash from 2025-27, plus a $25MM vesting choice for 2028 that turns into assured primarily based on well being and an innings threshold.
This wage may be the chief cause the M’s could be open to buying and selling Castillo, because the membership is thought to be working inside fairly restricted payroll parameters. Divish and Jude notice that the Mariners are thought to have round $15MM in spending house, and for a group with a number of wants to deal with on offense, their choices for signings or different trades widen enormously if Castillo’s contract was off the books. Releasing up some cash may enable the M’s to make a extra full-on pursuit of Christian Walker, who the Mariners have had “atop their want checklist for the reason that begin of the offseason,” Divish and Jude write.
A deal that noticed Castillo go to Wrigleyville might additionally logically convey no less than one bat again in Seattle’s route. The M’s have already been linked to Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, so a swap involving the 2 of them (if not essentially a one-for-one) would tackle each groups’ wants. Hoerner is owed $23.5MM over the following seasons, in order that represents some wage offset if Chicago absorbed all of Castillo’s contract.
However, sending Isaac Paredes to Houston within the Tucker commerce package deal has already value the Cubs one beginning infielder, so Chicago may now be much less keen to maneuver Hoerner. High prospect Matt Shaw is considered because the likeliest candidate to step in at third base in Paredes’ place, and whereas James Triandos is one other highly-touted teenager who may be prepared for the large leagues at second base, entrusting two infield jobs to rookies is a danger for the Cubs.
Getting Castillo for Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki could be a cleaner match for Chicago in dealing from its outfield depth, however the Mariners have already got Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Victor Robles slated for beginning jobs. The M’s have Luke Raley set for no less than part-time obligation at first base and Mitch Haniger penciled in at DH, as properly. This all being stated, the Mariners have such a broad want for hitting that it actually isn’t past Dipoto to focus on a giant outfield bat after which get artistic in both becoming that bat into the lineup, or maybe attempting to deal Raley or Haniger to land the infield assist Seattle extra clearly wants.
Putting in Castillo alongside Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and the newly-signed Matthew Boyd would abruptly give the Cubs one of many extra interesting rotations in baseball. Loads extra pitching could be readily available as properly, since buying Castillo would flip fifth-starter candidates Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks, or high prospect Cade Horton into depth arms. Speculatively talking, considered one of these youthful depth arms may be despatched to Seattle in a hypothetical Castillo commerce, to provide the Mariners a ready-made alternative for the brand new emptiness of their rotation.
