The Braves were widely anticipated to reinforce their pitching rotation this offseason, and while no major moves have materialized thus far, it’s not due to a lack of effort. They reportedly posed a serious challenge to the Phillies in pursuing Aaron Nola, even prompting the Phillies to raise their offer to seven years and $172 million to secure his retention. General Manager Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged the team’s active involvement in discussions with various clubs for potential trades, though none have materialized yet. However, with several months remaining in the offseason, the possibility of significant blockbuster trades before Opening Day remains open.
Following the Tyler Glasnow trade, the most discussed names in the market include Dylan Cease and Corbin Burnes. Notably, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times has mentioned Luis Castillo as a name to watch. While the Mariners expressed reluctance to trade a starter, financial constraints may force their hand in shedding salary.
Despite Castillo’s stellar performance, coming off an All-Star season and finishing fifth in the AL Cy Young race, he will turn 31 next season and is under team control through 2027 at a relatively reasonable rate of $22.75 million AAV. While the Mariners may ideally want to retain Castillo, financial considerations could prompt them to explore a trade, especially considering their surplus of talented pitchers.
The Braves and Mariners have already engaged in one trade this offseason, acquiring outfielder Jarred Kelenic along with contracts of Marco Gonzales and Evan White. This move was primarily viewed as a salary dump, with the Mariners receiving only one noteworthy prospect, Cole Phillips, who has yet to pitch in a professional game.
Divish on MLB network said what we know:
– the Mariners don’t want to trade a starter but might be forced to do so.
– Even brought up Luis Castillo as a possibility
— Steve (@MarinersSteve) December 26, 2023
Trading Castillo would be a more significant move than a mere salary dump, given the rarity of star pitchers in their prime becoming available. Although the Braves do not boast the healthiest farm system, they possess assets that could pique the Mariners’ interest, particularly if they are willing to absorb the entirety of Castillo’s contract.
Whether or not the Mariners decide to trade Luis Castillo, they remain a team to monitor throughout the remainder of the offseason. With a surplus of appealing pitchers and a prior trade history with the Braves, they could present intriguing opportunities for Atlanta.