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 Times. The depth of Chicago’s curiosity isn’t identified, neither is this curiosity nonetheless current 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 completely if he isn’t desirous about going to Chicago.
For the reason that Cubs had been known to be looking for pitching, nevertheless, it might make sense that they might at the least verify in on what appears to be an more and more out there 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 concept of buying and selling from Seattle’s rotation depth, it’s thought that Castillo is perhaps essentially the most out there of the beginning 5. The 32-year-old Castillo is at the least 5 years older than any of George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo or Bryce Miller, and way more costly — Castillo is owed $68.25M in assured cash from 2025-27, plus a $25M vesting choice for 2028 that turns into assured primarily based on well being and an innings threshold.
This wage is perhaps the chief cause the M’s can be open to buying and selling Castillo, because the membership is thought to function inside fairly restricted payroll parameters. Divish and Jude notice that the Mariners are thought to have round $15M in spending area, and for a crew with a number of wants to deal with on offense, their choices for signings or different trades widen significantly if Castillo’s contract was off the books. Releasing up some cash may permit the M’s to make a extra full-on pursuit of Christian Walker, who the Mariners have had “atop their want listing for the reason that begin of the offseason,” Divish and Jude write.
A deal that noticed Castillo go to Wrigleyville might additionally logically convey at the least one bat again in Seattle’s course. The M’s have already been linked to Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, so a swap involving the 2 (if not essentially a one-for-one) would deal with each groups’ wants. Hoerner is owed $23.5M over the next 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 bundle has already value the Cubs one beginning infielder, so Chicago is perhaps much less keen to maneuver Hoerner. Prime prospect Matt Shaw is seen because the likeliest candidate to step in at third base in Paredes’ place, and whereas James Triandos is one other highly-touted teenager who is perhaps 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 can be a greater match for Chicago dealing from its outfield depth. Nonetheless, the Mariners have already got Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena and Victor Robles slated for beginning jobs. The M’s have Luke Raley set for at the least part-time obligation at first base and Mitch Haniger penciled in at DH, too. This all being mentioned, the Mariners have such a broad want for hitting that it definitely isn’t past Dipoto to focus on an enormous 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. Lots extra pitching would even be available since buying Castillo would flip fifth-starter candidates Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks or high prospect Cade Horton into depth arms. Speculatively talking, one among these youthful depth arms may be despatched to Seattle in a hypothetical Castillo commerce to present the Mariners a ready-made substitute for the brand new emptiness of their rotation.
