The New York Yankees suffered a major setback when ace Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John surgery. Originally expected to anchor the rotation alongside Max Fried and Luis Gil, Cole’s absence and Gil’s ongoing recovery may push the Yankees to seek starting pitching help at the trade deadline.
Jon Conahan of Heavy suggested a potential trade with the Seattle Mariners for right-hander Luis Castillo. Seattle, loaded with pitching but struggling offensively, might consider moving Castillo to add a quality bat and reduce payroll. Castillo, who signed a five-year, $108 million contract in 2023, is under team control through 2027 with a vesting option for 2028, earning $24 million annually.
Luis Castillo.
So far in 2025, Castillo has posted a 2.12 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 17 innings in three starts. A three-time All-Star with a 3.54 career ERA, he’s been solid since joining the Mariners, compiling a 3.38 ERA across 77 starts. Having made over 30 starts in each of the past two seasons, he’s a durable and reliable option.
Adding Castillo could immediately stabilize the Yankees’ rotation and give them a long-term replacement for Cole. A healthy trio of Castillo, Fried, and Gil could be the key to powering the Yankees deep into the playoffs — and potentially back to the World Series.
Leave a Reply