One of the best-kept secrets in baseball this winter is the Mariners’ need for infield help. If the 2024 season were to start today, the club would be JP Crawford locked in with a short stop but little certainty throughout the diamond. The first site may be taken by this team Luke Raley again Tyler Locklearthe latter of which struggled badly in a 16-game coffee cup with Seattle last year. Second and third base can be even worse. Dylan Moore he can play both positions and could be the team’s everyday player after appearing in 135 games last year but may be better suited for a big relief role given his incredible versatility and struggles against same-handed play. Ryan Bliss, Austin Shentonagain Leo Rivas they are all young and exciting hitters who will make their major league debuts in 2024, but none of them even got 100 plate appearances in the majors last year and it would be risky to fully rely on them.
That apparent need for an infielder or two has led the Mariners to consider making a move they’ve been reluctant to pull the trigger on for some time: trading up from their first rotation. There’s an argument to be made that Seattle boasts the best starting rotation in baseball. George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Milleragain Bryan Woo build the kind of proven, controllable corps of young starters most teams can only dream of developing, as well as a veteran right-hander. Luis Castillo He has served as a veteran anchor in the club’s rotation since being acquired from the Reds following the 2022 trade deadline. While the Mariners still appear unlikely to part with any minors in their trade, they have at least started listening to offers for Castillo, who has drawn interest around the league for his inexpensive contract and above-average results.
That doesn’t mean the Castillo trade comes without potential obstacles. Although the right-hander excelled during his two full seasons in Seattle, he did not post the same results he did earlier in his career with Cincinnati. After posting a 3.46 ERA (132 ERA+) with a nearly identical 3.43 FIP from 2019 to 2022, Castillo’s 3.48 ERA (110 ERA+) has remained stagnant over the past two years despite a pitching-friendly home ballpark while 3.86 His FIP is remarkable. back from the early days of his career and his fastball velocity has lost a ticket or two since arriving in Washington.
Aside from the potential concerns of rescuers, Castillo also exercises a full no-trade clause and can block any trade if he chooses. One final wrinkle from the Mariners’ perspective is their lack of starting depth behind the top five pieces of the rotation; Emerson Hancock could be the next man up if Castillo is dealt, but he struggled in 12 starts last year and there’s probably no big leaguer ready to start behind him in the organization. That would make a team that could offer a young starter in addition to helping the infield an attractive trade partner for Seattle.
So, which clubs are best suited to sign a right-handed player? Let’s look at nine possible options, listed alphabetically within three categories:
Best Fit:
- Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have had a tough season so far, with two wins Juan Soto again Corbin Burns in free agency. Their biggest addition at this point is a midfielder Andrés Giménezwho made an agreement to receive from the guardians during the Winter Meetings. That being said, they are known to be in the market for starting pitching help, and Castillo will form a solid veteran nucleus in the rotation around. Kevin Gausman, José Berríosagain Chris Bassitt. In addition, the Jays have a number of exciting young players as well Davis Schneider, Leo Jiménezagain Is Wagner who would be of interest to the Mariners.
- Giants: The Giants made a big splash just before the Winter Meetings began with signings Willy Adams but he joined Toronto in being the reported top suitor for Burnes who missed out on the right tackle when he agreed to a deal with Arizona late Friday night. Castillo would be a great starter to pair with Logan Webb at the front of San Francisco’s rotation, and the Giants have previously expressed a willingness to deal the first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. this winter. Wade, who turns 31 on New Year’s Day, has posted a solid .258/.376/.401 (120 wRC+) with an impressive 15% walk rate over the past two seasons.
- Orioles: As the team Burnes prepares for in 2024 before reaching free agency, the Orioles join the Blue Jays and Giants in the hunt for a quality arm now that he’s headed for the desert. The need for a forward arm in Baltimore is perhaps more dire than anywhere else on this list, as is the ace of the 2023 staff. Kyle Bradish he is not expected to enter the first half of 2025 following last year’s UCL surgery. Castillo was coming in first Zach Eflin again Grayson Rodriguez to the Orioles, providing much-needed stability in Baltimore’s rotation. In return, the Orioles can offer a player from their balance of first base options such as Ryan Mountcastle and maybe even add a little starter like that Kade Povich to help replace Castillo in Seattle’s rotation. What is worth noting is that the Orioles are one of the teams that are reported to have asked about food this winter.
Next Next Section:
- The brave: The Warriors looked at them both Fried Max again Charlie Morton they moved away from free agency last month but have yet to make a significant move this offseason Jorge Soler away from the Angels. Adding a Castillo-like arm to the rear mix Chris Sale and (finally) Spencer Strider he could give the club another quality starter while providing protection from a rotation filled with pitchers who are constantly injured. Atlanta doesn’t have much to offer in the way of inside help without a prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. but could help supplement the Mariners’ rotation by providing a controllable starter like Bryce Elder or AJ Smith-Shawver as part of the refund.
- Lambs: The Cubs have already been linked to Castillo this winter and are known to be in the market for a top starter to pair with him. Justin Steele again Shota Imanagabut the team’s latest trade Kyle Tucker it seemed strange to meet between the two sides. The Mariners were known to be interested in the Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner this winter, and the Cubs previously could part with Hoerner and replace him at the keystone with Matt Shaw. However, since then, the Cubs have sent a third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Astros in exchange for Tucker. With Shaw now penciled in to replace Paredes at the hot corner, the Cubs may be reluctant to part with Hoerner to bolster the Mariners’ outfield. While a young beginner like Javier Assad or Jordan Wicks could help facilitate a trade, it’s hard to imagine a Castillo deal that doesn’t send some form of internal help to Seattle.
- Red Sox: The Red Sox are also among the teams known to have discussed Castillo with Seattle, and the club attempted to make a trade involving him, Places to stay in Triston Casasagain Masataka Yoshida that was eventually closed by Manzini. It’s hard to imagine Boston parting ways with Casas in a direct exchange for Castillo, which would make it difficult to find a match between the two sides. Maybe there could still be an agreement that sends a small piece of the field like Vaughn Grissom or David Hamilton to Seattle alongside a young starter as Cutter Crawfordbut now that the Red Sox have delivered Walker Buehler in exchange other clubs may be more motivated to make a deal with Seattle than Boston.
Long Shots:
- Dodgers: The Dodgers are not known to be interested in Castillo but remain a threat to improve their lineup and could benefit from adding a strong, innings-eating arm like him to the cavalcade of high-octane arms with fitness questions currently building their roster. to start the cycle. Still, though, the Dodgers have little to offer from their infield mix at the moment. Maybe Gavin Lux could be an effective teammate for Moore at second base, but even adding a little starting point is the same Landon Knack alongside Lux it seems unlikely to entice the Mariners to part with Castillo.
- The Mets: The Mets were among the teams linked to Castillo this winter, but then completed their rotation by adding a lefty. Sean Manaea. It is at least theoretically possible that the club could add Castillo and push Clay Holmes out of their assumed rotation and into the bullpen, but given the fact that New York clearly signed Holmes to start that would be a big surprise, as the Mets have excess pieces like. Brett Baty again Taylor Megill that will really interest Seattle.
- Tigers: Detroit could use a bona fide former arm to pair with it Tarik Skubal next season, and added a veteran rotation Alex Cobb it did not fill that need. The Tigers also recently signed Gleyber Torres with a movement that pushed the young man Colt Keith at first base, which appears to leave a perfect first choice Spencer Torkelson without a role in the majors. Torkelson would be a top addition that will interest the Mariners as they look for starting relief, but it’s unclear if they will part with Castillo to get him or if the Tigers are interested in taking the 72.45MM Castillo guaranteed for the next three seasons.
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