The Mariners have “expressed willingness” to take heed to presents on veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, in response to a report from Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. The report comes on the heels of Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto referring to dealing from the rotation because the membership’s “Plan Z” for the offseason again in October. Certainly, it appears as if the membership nonetheless isn’t essentially enthused in regards to the thought of parting with certainly one of its starters, as Adam Jude of The Seattle Occasions reported this night that whereas “something is feasible,” the membership’s “private and non-private” stance coming into the Winter Conferences is that they don’t need to commerce from their rotation.
Even so, that the membership is at the very least considerably open to presents on Castillo is pretty notable. The proper-hander, 32 subsequent week, has three extra assured years on the extension he signed with the Mariners previous to the 2023 season. He’ll earn a $24.15MM wage annually from 2025 to 2027, and the contract additionally features a attainable choice for the 2028 season. If Castillo misses greater than 130 days resulting from a UCL process in 2025-2027, the contract features a $5MM workforce choice for the 2028 marketing campaign. In any other case, the contract features a $25MM vesting choice for 2028 that vests if Castillo throws at 180 innings in the course of the 2027 season and receives affirmation from an impartial doctor after the season that he hasn’t suffered an harm that’d require him to start the next 12 months on the injured checklist.
In brief, that considerably advanced deal ensures Castillo $72.45MM over the subsequent three seasons which may rise to $97.45MM over 4 years if his choice vests. Notably, Castillo’s contract additionally included a full no-trade clause for the primary three years of the deal that may stay in place by the top of the 2025 season, which means the righty must approve of any commerce he’s concerned in. It’s unclear whether or not Castillo can be keen to entertain a commerce out of Seattle or what his preferences is likely to be, and it’s attainable that the right-hander’s no-trade clause may render any commerce talks moot if he’s unwilling to go away the Mariners.
Ought to Castillo and the Mariners each be open to a commerce, nevertheless, it’s simple to see why he is likely to be of curiosity to rival golf equipment. The righty’s $72.45MM assure over the subsequent three years isn’t way more than what left-hander Yusei Kikuchi obtained from the Angels this winter, and Castillo compares fairly nicely to the veteran lefty. Not solely is he a 12 months and a half youthful than Kikuchi, however the right-hander has additionally roundly outperformed him on the sphere. Kikuchi’s pitched to a 3.96 ERA with a 3.78 FIP in 64 begins for the Astros and Blue Jays over the previous two years, whereas Castillo has posted a wonderful 3.43 ERA and three.72 FIP in 74 begins since he first donned a Mariners uniform following the 2022 commerce deadline. Given the ever-escalating costs on the beginning pitching market and the hesitance many groups have proven partaking on pitchers encumbered by the Qualifying Provide, Castillo could possibly be a beautiful different to mid-market gamers like Sean Manaea and Nick Pivetta who stay out there in free company.
That’s to not say there aren’t any causes for concern in Castillo’s profile, in fact. Castillo has misplaced practically two ticks of velocity off his fastball since his peak with the Reds, and since arriving in Seattle his once-superb groundball price has fallen off to a extra pedestrian 39.1% over the previous two years. His strikeout price dipped equally this 12 months, settling in at simply 24.3% in 2024. That left him as a more-or-less league common starter by each outcomes and peripherals this 12 months, as he pitched to a 3.64 ERA with a 3.91 FIP and a 3.79 SIERA in 175 1/3 innings of labor. That mentioned, Castillo helps to make up for his diminishing outcomes with quantity. He’s been one thing of a workhorse all through his profession, pitching at the very least 150 innings in each wire-to-wire, 162-game season of his profession whereas averaging practically 178 innings per season because the begin of the 2021 marketing campaign.
General, Castillo is a strong, sturdy arm who can slot cleanly into the entrance or center of just about any membership’s rotation. That ought to make him a beautiful piece in a scorching marketplace for beginning pitching, and if Castillo is open to a commerce it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Mariners leverage their glorious rotation to assist handle different areas of the roster, whilst they categorical reluctance to take action. In spite of everything, it’s value noting that the membership might face a funds crunch this winter that makes dealing Castillo and the $24.15MM he’s owed extra palatable. Whereas the Mariners are anticipated to enter 2025 with a payroll increased than their 2024 determine, that’s a degree they’ve already reached: RosterResource initiatives Seattle for a $146MM payroll in 2025, and their year-end payroll this 12 months was $144MM. Even with a small improve to payroll anticipated, that seemingly leaves little or no room for the membership so as to add wage.
That would pose an issue for the Mariners, given their reported curiosity in including two infielders this winter. The membership has a reported desire so as to add on the infield corners however has additionally been related to center infielders within the rumor mill, comparable to Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and KBO infielder Hyeseong Kim. Cubs first baseman Cody Bellinger and Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm are among the many different gamers the Mariners have reportedly thought-about on the commerce market, and the membership additionally reportedly has curiosity in reuniting with both Justin Turner or Carlos Santana in free company.
In fact, including any of these gamers would value cash, and with out a extra substantial improve to the funds than anticipated it could possibly be a tall order so as to add two of them. The Mariners would certainly love to maneuver on from the ultimate 12 months of both Mitch Haniger’s or Mitch Garver’s contract, however each sluggers have destructive commerce worth coming off tough seasons. A Castillo commerce, against this, doubtless may deliver again a notable return whereas additionally clearing loads of cash off the membership’s books to afford extra monetary flexibility this winter to both dabble in free company or tackle wage on the commerce market.
