Luis Castillo Traded to AL West Team

While the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers were said to ‘best positioned’ to acquire top starter Luis Castillo, we’ve now learned, according to MLB Insider Jeff Passan, that it’s the Seattle Mariners that have landed the ace right-hander. 

BREAKING: The Seattle Mariners are finalizing a deal to acquire right-hander Luis Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2022

 It was just yesterday that Castillo was labeled the Mariners “main target” at the deadline, and the Cincinnati Reds indeed decided to go back to the team they are quite comfortable dealing with. Last offseason, the two teams struck a deal that sent Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to Seattle, and now their former teammate Castillo joins them in the Pacific Northwest. 

Castillo becomes the second ace starter to join the M’s in the past year, as they also signed reigning AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray before the season. 

The return is a huge prospect haul, according to Jon Morosi, and would most certainly take them out of the Juan Soto sweepstakes.

Full trade: Luis Castillo to #Mariners for Noelvi Marte, Levi Stoudt, Andrew Moore, and Edwin Arroyo. @SeattleSports @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2022

Seattle’s top prospect, shortstop Noelvi Marte heads to Cincinnati, along with No. 3 prospect Edwin Arroyo, No. 5, RHP Levi Stoudt, and Andrew Moore. 

The Mariners are primed for a big playoff run down the stretch, sitting in the 2nd Wild Card spot, just one game back of Toronto.

Photo: Kareem Elgazzar / USA TODAY NETWORK