Seattle Mariners GM revisits 2022 trade for top pitcher Luis Castillo

After ending their infamous playoff drought in 2022, the Seattle Mariners won a wild-card series against the Toronto Blue Jays that year. Although they ultimately lost to the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series, it represented a major step forward for the organization at the time.

Part of the reason the M’s were able to make the playoffs that year and win a series? The acquisition of Luis Castillo, who was acquired in a midseason trade with the Cincinnati Reds. Castillo went 4-2 for the M’s that season, pitching to a 3.17 ERA. Nicknamed “The Rock”, Castillo also dominated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the wild card series, setting the tone for the two-game sweep.

Speaking on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast this week, Mariners GM Justin Hollander revisited the trade and discussed how difficult it was to say goodbye to top players Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, who moved to Cincinnati.

“They are painful decisions to make and conversations to have, but at that moment we understood that there was only one Luis Castillo available and we tried to do something special that year. And we were able to not only win that year, but also a future year of Luis Castillo, and we just didn’t feel like the opportunity to access that kind of talent was available in any other way.”

Castillo also signed a long-term contract extension with the organization shortly after arriving in Seattle, making the deal even more of a home run for the organization. Madam. Castillo went 14-9 in the 2023 season, making the All-Star Game.

He was 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA this past season, with his record largely a product of the team’s inability to score for much of the season.

Nearly 32 years old, there have been trade rumors about Castillo this offseason, but he has a no-trade clause and the M’s have been adamant about not dealing a starting pitcher.

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch And @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE: