Familiar Mets trade partner is an even better match this offseason

The Mariners have a player for the Mets to target, too

Pitching is what kept the Mariners competitive in 2024. If there’s one reasonable trade candidate on their roster, it’s veteran Luis Castillo. He was 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts for Seattle. He turns 32 later this year which isn’t too ancient to pass up on.

An extremely talented pitcher who has never quite reached the full potential of what many believed he could become, Castillo is no stranger to trades. He has been dealt five times in the past. The Miami Marlins traded for him twice and dealt him away just as many. Castillo was able to sign an extension with Seattle before reaching free agency. Owed $24.15 million in each of the next three seasons with a $25 million vesting option for 2028, it’s a large amount of money but not such an outrageously bad one for a team willing to spend.

The trouble the Mariners run into is that they have other needs and younger pitchers they might feel are more on the upswing in their careers. Logan Gilbert isn’t a free agent until after 2027. George Kirby won’t reach it until after 2028. The arbitration numbers for both are creeping upward. Now, while Castillo has plenty of value left, might be the time to strike.