3 best Mets starting pitcher trade targets with Garrett Crochet off the board

The New York Mets worked hard to find a deal with the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet before he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. The Mets find themselves in need of a starting pitcher to bolster their rotation.

While the team has made additions to their pitching staff, acquiring another frontline starter would significantly enhance their chances of competing for a World Series title. Let's delve into three potential trade targets.

1) Luis Castillo

Luis Castillo has established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Known for his electric fastball and devastating changeup, Castillo consistently generates swings and misses.

However, over the last two seasons, Castillo has shown a deterioration in his results in terms of ERA due to a slight decrease in his strikeout percentage and a considerable increase in his contact hard hit allowed. In 2024, Castillo's fastball saw a decline in velocity decreasing from 96.3 mph in 2023 to 95.6 mph, while the batting average allowed for this pitch increased.

Despite this deterioration, Castillo proved to be a valuable pitcher and a workhorse. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged around 180 innings. Likewise, Castillo has consistently performed at a high level, making him a reliable option.

On the other hand, Acquiring Castillo would likely require a significant trade package, including top prospects. Observing the value obtained by the Red Sox in the case of Garrett Crochet, the free agent market and the transfer market look demanding and high prices.

Castillo is under team control for two more years with a vesting option in 2028 if he can accomplish the goal of 180 innings pitched the season before. Each season remaining on his contract is valued at $24 million, which, looking at the current market, is a reasonable value for Castillo, providing the Mets with stability and long-term value.