Breaking news: Seattle Mariners’ three-time All-Star Acquired in Yankees Blockbuster Trade Pitch
There are a few possible routes the Yankees could take, but considering right-handed Luis Castillo could be a smart move. The Seattle Mariners starter has been excellent over the past few years, but with the offense already displaying shortcomings, there’s a chance this team could be out of playoff contention by the summer. The New York Yankees will need to replace Gerrit Cole and find an ace-caliber starter as well, and if there aren’t any available, they’re likely to lose the trade deadline.
He was listed as a trade candidate by Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, who also mentioned that their offense may result in a move.
Depending on who the Mariners desire, the Yankees might send Spencer Jones and more for Castillo in a potential deal from Heavy Sports.
Moving Castillo before the season started would have saved the M’s more than $72 million from 2025–2027, which they could have more realistically used to acquire an Alex Bregman or Pete Alonso, even though he does have a complete no-trade clause through the end of this season that they would need to manage.
Miller wrote, “Even though that ship has sailed, the 32-year-old ace might still be available for trade this summer if he manages to score eight runs in the season-opening four-game series against the Athletics is a sign of what’s to come once again from this offense.” The New York Yankees’ pitching staff was killed by injuries The Yankees believed they had one of the best staffs in Major League Baseball during the offseason, but they were put in a terrible position due to injuries they suffered just before the regular season began.
What matters here, though, is that the Seattle Mariners had Castillo accessible. Castillo knew that he was available if the Yankees wanted him.
Through Castillo’s agent, Rafa Nieves of Republik Sports, Mariners head of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and general manager Justin Hollander informed Castillo that these discussions were occurring.
However, they never came to the point in the discussions where it was discussed whether Castillo should be asked to renounce the no-trade provision he has in place through the end of 2025. After this season, that provision expires, leaving Castillo with two years and $48 million left, along with a $25 million vesting option for 2028, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
In the offseason, the Yankees showed no interest in him.
The New York Yankees reportedly showed no interest in him, even though the Seattle Mariners made him available.
But the Yankees were among the clubs interested in the possible Ace at the 2022 trade deadline.
“The Yankees — who were believed to finish runner-up to the Mariners in the bidding to acquire Castillo from the Reds at the 2022 Trade Deadline — never called, according to a source, which makes sense given that they signed Max Fried for eight years and $218 million. Castillo joked that he probably wouldn’t have complied with their appearance policy that wouldn’t allow him to keep his dreadlocks.”
Even though Castillo has more innings left and it’s been a few years, it may be a sign that the Yankees will be interested in him again in the future.
