A Mets-Mariners trade to make for Luis Castillo that doesn't include Jeff McNeil

David Stearns should be aiming to heavily bolster the Mets rotation this offseason, heading to the trade market for one might be the best option if he isn't able to sign a top starter in free agency. A pitcher of this caliber being slotted into any rotation is a huge victory for any team in the MLB.

The main question is why would the Mariners trade a talented pitcher? Seattle has had an issue where the starting rotation has been superb but a completely different story regarding the offense. The Mariners ranked 29th in AVG (.224), 15th in OBP (.311), 25th in SLG, 22nd in OPS (.687), 21st in runs scored (676), and ranked 1st in strikeouts (1625). Those numbers clearly show how horrible the offense is and that needs to change for next season if they want to make the playoffs in a tough AL West. Trading Castillo away to acquire bats makes too much sense, especially for a pitcher-needy team like the Mets.

What would Castillo bring to New York?

Luis Castillo posted a 3.64 ERA last season, including a 1.169 WHIP, 3.91 FIP, and 101 ERA+ in 175.1 innings pitched. At only 31 years old, acquiring an arm like this still in his prime to headline your starting rotation would be great for the Mets. Castillo's pitch arsenal is quite simple but dominant, he throws a fastball, slider, sinker, and changeup. His fastball is his main pitch but the velocity of it has noticeably declined over the years as it averaged 95.6 MPH, it was around the 96-97 range his last three seasons. His putout pitch is an extremely dominant slider that had a Whiff% of 35.8 last year.

Another big part of acquiring Luis Castillo would be his contract compared to what starting pitchers in free agency are predicted to get. A great example would be 33-year-old Yusiel Kikuchi signing with the Los Angeles Angels on a 3-year deal worth $63 million, AAV of $21 million. Castillo has three years remaining on his contract where he will be making just over $24 million and is not only better than Kikuchi but also younger.

How does the return help the Mariners?

Bolstering your farm system with players that have a ton of raw talent with some MLB experience is always a good move. Seattle would be receiving two players that have been quite involved in important games with the Mets and then getting a high upside pitcher in Nolan McLean.

Luisangel Acuña is a small player that brings you great defense and a ton of speed including decent raw power and average contact skills. One of the main issues with him is his plate discipline which involves an unoptimized swing leading to weak contact at times. The Mets used him as a utility guy but he played his role very well down the stretch in late September and the playoffs.

Ronny Mauricio got injured back in December of 2023 while playing in the Dominican Winter League. He tore his ACL and has yet to be involved in any baseball activities but is expected to return soon. Before his injury, he was viewed as a potential option to be the Mets starting third baseman on Opening Day. Mauricio has elite raw power but has a chase problem, defensively it is unclear where he would play depending on how his body is post-injury. A question mark but his upside is very high, possibly leading to teams taking a risk on the infielder.

Nolan McLean has been rising through the Mets farm system and he deserves it with the way he has looked on the mound. His slider is one of the best pitches you'd see with your own eyes, 3,200 RPMS and in the 90 MPH range is flat-out insane. Pairing this slider up with his fastball that reaches 98 MPH is a recipe for success as a prospect. The Mets organization has yet to decide whether they want to make McLean a starter or reliever but hopefully, that's the Mariners' responsibility with this trade in the air.