With the MLB Trade Deadline days away, the Seattle Mariners made an aggressive trade on Friday that will go a long way towards helping them end Major League Baseball’s longest active postseason drought. The Mariners acquired likely the best starting pitcher on the market, trading for Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds.
Jeff Passan of ESPN was the first to report that Castillo was going to Seattle. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times added that the Reds are getting Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Leve Stoudt and Andrew Moore in exchange. The Mariners confirmed the deal on Twitter.
Adding another ace.
We’ve acquired All-Star RHP Luis Castillo from the Reds in exchange for IF Noelvi Marte, IF Edwin Arroyo, RHP Levi Stoudt and RHP Andrew Moore.
📰 https://t.co/TEwvYUG1uP pic.twitter.com/6H2KXbbpFc
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 30, 2022
Realistically, that’s a good haul for Cincinnati. Marte, Arroyo and Stoudt were all top-five prospects in the Seattle organization. Marte and Arroyo are both thriving in the Minors this year. Marte is hitting .270/.360/.460 with 15 home runs and 12 steals while Arroyo is at .316/.385/.514 with 13 home runs and has 21 stolen bases.
If you’re giving up that kind of young talent, you have to be getting a lot back. Fortunately for the Mariners — Castillo is a stud. He has a 2.86 ERA, 1.071 WHIP and a 9.5 K/9 ratio against only a 3.0 BB/9 mark.
While recognizing that the Mariners gave up a lot, the MLB world also liked what this deal will do for Seattle’s chances going forward.
Luis Castillo's career K rate – 9.8/9 IP
Luis Castrillo's career ERA+ – 126All #Mariners starters in history with a K rate and ERA+ that good:
Randy Johnson
(End list)
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 30, 2022
My two cents on the Luis Castillo trade:
I love it. Price tag hurts for sure but that’s the reality of trading for an ace. Tired of annually hoping the farm will be the savior of the franchise. Refill the cupboard in free agency. Seattle isn’t a small market. So act accordingly.
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) July 30, 2022
This is quite a haul for the Reds and Mariners.
I did not see Arroyo being traded, honestly.
Marte? In the right deal? Yes.
But Castillo … that's everything the Mariners wanted and maybe more.— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) July 30, 2022
Last time Mariners were in the playoffs, there was like one Starbucks. Nice to see them go get a good one in Luis Castillo.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) July 30, 2022
The Mariners wanted to make a splash, and have they ever with Luis Castillo. They got the best starter on the trade market, and with Logan Gilbert, Robbie Ray and others, their rotation is playoff-ready. Now they just need to finish strong for their first October in two decades.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2022
Seattle entered Friday night’s action at 54-46, good enough for the second of the three American League Wild Card spots. Realistically, catching the Houston Astros atop the AL West is a pipe dream. But getting Castillo should help the Mariners not only solidify their playoff spot but also do damage in the postseason.
[Jeff Passan, Ryan Divish, Seattle Mariners]
