The Cubs are one of many groups who’ve spoken to the Mariners about Luis Castillo’s commerce availability, based on Ryan Divish and Adam Jude of the Seattle Instances. The depth of Chicago’s curiosity isn’t identified, neither is this curiosity nonetheless present 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 may veto issues fully if he isn’t concerned with going to Chicago.
For the reason that Cubs had been identified to be wanting for pitching, nevertheless, it will make sense that they might at the very least test in on what appears to be an more and more accessible commerce candidate. Rumors have been swirling about Castillo’s availability in latest 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 likely to be essentially the most accessible of the beginning 5. The 32-year-old Castillo is at the very 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 possibility for 2028 that turns into assured primarily based on well being and an innings threshold.
This wage is likely to be the chief cause the M’s could be open to buying and selling Castillo, because the membership is understood to function inside fairly restricted payroll parameters. Divish and Jude word that the Mariners are thought to have round $15M in spending area, and for a staff with a number of wants to handle on offense, their choices for signings or different trades widen vastly if Castillo’s contract was off the books. Releasing up some cash would possibly 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 may additionally logically carry at the very least 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 (if not essentially a one-for-one) would tackle 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 price the Cubs one beginning infielder, so Chicago is likely to be much less prepared 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 teen who is likely to be prepared for the massive 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 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 very 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 a giant outfield bat after which get artistic in both becoming that bat into the lineup or maybe making an attempt 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 would even be readily available since buying Castillo would flip fifth-starter candidates Javier Assad, Ben Brown, Jordan Wicks or prime prospect Cade Horton into depth arms. Speculatively talking, one in all these youthful depth arms may be despatched to Seattle in a hypothetical Castillo commerce to offer the Mariners a ready-made alternative for the brand new emptiness of their rotation.
