Breaking News: The Yankees’ $108 million potential trade target is the “Best Trade Chip”.

Due to injuries to Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil, the New York Yankees will probably need a starting pitcher this season. The starting rotation hasn’t killed them yet, but that could change once the offense settles down. For months, the Yankees have been linked to Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo, who has roughly $72 million left on his contract plus a 2028 vesting option.

Castillo was just named one of the season’s top trade assets by Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. “While that ship has sailed, the 32-year-old ace could still be on the trade block this summer, if managing a grand total of eight runs during the season-opening four-game series against the Athletics is a sign of what’s to come once again from this offense,” wrote Miller. It’s a separate matter entirely whether they can find a trade partner who A) needs a starting pitcher, B) can afford the remaining portion of Castillo’s deal, and C) has an extra bat that would be beneficial to the Mariners. To make it happen, a three-team agreement is most likely required.

Castillo is a tough name to discuss on the trade block. He would need to clear a trade because of his no-trade clause, plus the amount of money left on his deal is a lot for the receiving team to take on. The Yankees may be the perfect landing site, though, as long as Castillo would take a deal there. New York could move either Spencer Jones or Everson Pereira over to Seattle to assist the Mariners’ offense, as well as take on the balance of Castillo’s contract.

Whether the Mariners will trade him this season is still up in the air.