3 best NY Mets trade matches at the MLB Winter Meetings

2) Seattle Mariners

If there’s one team with pitching to spare, it’s the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners will be one of the first teams other organizations call if they need a hurler, especially given the Mariners are a team in desperate need of hitters. Last season, the Mariners ranked 21st in runs scored, while the Mets ranked 7th, and the Mets still have young position players they could trade.

The Mariners look like they’ll see what they can get for stalwart Luis Castillo. Last year, Castillo put up a 3.75 ERA, 3.91 FIP, and 1.17 WHIP across 175.1 innings pitched. Castillo had a 24.3% strikeout rate and 1.28 HR/9, but his 6.5% was a single-season best for the veteran right-hander. Castillo has also been very durable, making at least 30 starts in five of his last six seasons (not including 2020).

Castillo comes with control through 2027 with an AAV of $24.15 million. He also has a vesting option for 2028 for $25 million that is dependent with his innings total the three prior seasons. While Castillo seems like the most likely player to get dealt, the Mariners will likely field offers on former first round pick Emmerson Hancock. Although he struggled last year, the right-hander is only entering his age-26 season.