The New York Yankees will be relying on the hope that several starting pitchers hit the trade market by the deadline. With Gerrit Cole sidelined and a pressing need for a frontline ace, they’ll face stiff competition for any top-tier arms that do become available—and may find themselves outbid if options are limited.
One possible route the Yankees could explore is targeting Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo. While Castillo has been consistently solid over the past few seasons, the Mariners’ early offensive struggles could push them out of playoff contention by midseason, making a trade more plausible.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently identified Castillo as a potential trade candidate, citing the Mariners’ weak offense as a reason they might look to deal their ace. A trade proposal from Heavy Sports even floated the idea of the Yankees offering top prospect Spencer Jones, among others, to land Castillo—though the exact return would depend on Seattle’s asking price.
Castillo does come with a full no-trade clause that lasts through the 2024 season, which the Yankees would have to navigate. Miller pointed out that had Seattle moved Castillo before the season, they could have saved more than $72 million across the 2025–2027 seasons—funds that might have allowed them to pursue major free agents like Pete Alonso or Alex Bregman. While that opportunity has passed, Castillo could still be moved in the summer if Seattle’s offense continues to falter—highlighted by a mere eight total runs in a four-game opening series against the Athletics.
Yankees’ Rotation Hit Hard by Injuries
Heading into the season, the Yankees expected their pitching rotation to be one of the best in baseball. But injuries struck at the worst possible time, leaving them scrambling to fill key roles as Opening Day approached.
That’s why Castillo being on the market is so significant. He was available, and the Yankees had the opportunity to pursue him. Seattle’s front office—including president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and GM Justin Hollander—kept Castillo informed of trade talks through his agent, Rafa Nieves. However, talks never advanced to the point of asking Castillo to waive his no-trade clause.
That clause remains in effect through the end of 2024. After that, Castillo will still be under contract for two more years at $48 million, with a vesting option worth $25 million for the 2028 season, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com.
Yankees Passed on Castillo This Offseason
Despite the Mariners being open to dealing Castillo before the season began, reports indicate the Yankees never showed serious interest. That’s in contrast to the 2022 trade deadline, when New York was reportedly a close second to Seattle in the race to acquire him from the Cincinnati Reds.
Ultimately, the Yankees didn’t make a move this time around, possibly because they had already committed to Max Fried, whom they signed to an eight-year, $218 million contract. As for Castillo, he jokingly noted that he might not have fit the Yankees’ appearance policy due to his dreadlocks, which are typically not permitted under team rules.
While it’s a few years later, and Castillo has more innings in his arm, that could be a good indication that the Yankees will show interest again in the future.
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