One of many worst-kept secrets and techniques in baseball this winter is the Mariners’ want for infield assist this winter. If the 2024 season had been to begin at the moment, the membership would have J.P. Crawford locked in at shortstop however little certainty round the remainder of the diamond. First base would doubtless 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 enjoying 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 an excellent utility position given his spectacular versatility and struggles in opposition to same-handed pitching. Ryan Bliss, Austin Shenton, and Leo Rivas are all younger and intriguing hitters who made their large league debuts in 2024, however none of them acquired 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 think about 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 the perfect beginning rotation in baseball. George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo type the kind 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 2024 commerce deadline. Whereas the Mariners nonetheless appear unlikely to half with any of the kids of their rotation, they’ve begun to no less than hearken to gives on Castillo, who has drawn curiosity across the league due to his pretty reasonably priced contract and persistently 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 dwelling 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 issues for would-be suitors, Castillo additionally wields a full no-trade clause and will block any commerce if he so chooses. One ultimate wrinkle from the Mariners’ perspective is their lack of beginning pitching depth behind a superb prime 5 rotation items; Emerson Hancock would doubtless be the subsequent man up if Castillo was dealt, however he struggled in 12 begins final yr and there’s just about no large league prepared beginning depth behind him within the group. That would make a group that might provide a younger starter along with infield assist a very engaging commerce accomplice for Seattle.
So, which golf equipment are greatest suited to swinging a deal for the right-hander? Let’s check out 9 potential choices, listed alphabetically between three tiers:
Finest 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 up to now is infielder Andrés Giménez, who they swung a deal to amass from the Guardians through the Winter Conferences. With that stated, they’re recognized to be available in the market for beginning pitching assist, and Castillo would type a stable veteran nucleus within the rotation alongside Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, and Chris Bassitt. What’s extra, the Jays have a variety of attention-grabbing younger infielders like Davis Schneider, Leo Jiménez, and Will Wagner who could possibly be of curiosity to the Mariners.
- Giants: The Giants made an enormous 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 night time. Castillo can be a superb 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 stable .258/.376/.401 (120 wRC+) with a improbable 15% stroll price over the previous two seasons.
- Orioles: Because the group 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 wherever else on this checklist, as 2023’s employees 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 resembling Ryan Mountcastle and maybe even add in a younger starter like Cade Povich to assist exchange 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 at no cost company final month however have but to make a major transfer this offseason outdoors of buying and selling Jorge Soler away to the Angels. Including an arm like Castillo to the combination behind Chris Sale and (finally) Spencer Strider would provide the membership one other high-end starter whereas additionally offering safety to a rotation filled with continuously injured hurlers. Atlanta doesn’t have a lot to supply in the best way of infield assist outdoors 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 linked to Castillo this winter and are recognized 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 sophisticated the match between the 2 sides. The Mariners are recognized to have had curiosity in Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner this winter, and the Cubs beforehand may half with Hoerner and exchange him on the keystone with Matt Shaw. Since then, nevertheless, the Cubs shipped third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Astros in trade for Tucker. With Shaw now penciled in as Paredes’s substitute 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 resembling 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 kind of infield assist again to Seattle.
- Purple Sox: The Purple Sox are additionally among the many groups recognized to have mentioned Castillo with Seattle, and the membership particularly tried to swing a commerce involving him, Triston Casas, and Masataka Yoshida that was finally 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 resembling Vaughn Grissom or David Hamilton to Seattle alongside a younger starter like Kutter Crawford, however now that the Purple 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 Photographs:
- Dodgers: The Dodgers usually are not recognized to have curiosity in Castillo however are at all times a risk to improve their roster and will definitely profit from including a gentle, innings-eating arm like him to the cavalcade of high-octane arms with sturdiness questions that presently make up their beginning rotation. Even so, nevertheless, the Dodgers have little to supply from their infield combine for the time being. Maybe Gavin Lux could possibly be a serviceable platoon accomplice for Moore at second base, however even including a younger starter resembling 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 linked to Castillo this winter, however they subsequently rounded out their rotation by including left-hander Sean Manaea. It’s no less than 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 resembling Brett Baty and Tylor Megill that might certainly 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 lately signed Gleyber Torres in a transfer that pushed teen Colt Keith to first base, seemingly leaving former first general decide Spencer Torkelson with no position within the majors. Torkelson can be a high-upside addition who’s certain 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 excited by taking up the $72.45MM Castillo is assured over the subsequent three seasons.
