It would be a stretch to say Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo almost became a Minnesota Twin before the 2022 trade deadline.
At least, if the Cincinnati Reds had entertained an offer from Minnesota, Castillo would not be facing the predicament he finds himself in with the Mariners.
More news: Former Phillies, D-Backs, Mariners Infielder Retires Immediately at 30
On Aug. 2, 2022, the Reds traded pitcher Tyler Mahle to the Twins for three prospects. Two — infielders Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand — reached the majors.
It was a coup for Cincinnati. Considering Castillo, not Mahle, was the pitcher the Twins initially wanted from the Reds, the trade looks even better with almost four years’ hindsight.
Speaking on the “Rosters to Rings” podcast with Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall, former Twins executive Thad Levine revealed that his request to discuss Castillo in a trade was denied by Krall.
More news: MLB Punishes Brewers Pitcher For Allegedly Obscene Gesture
“The other thing I’ll share, I believe we also started the conversation with you expressing interest in Luis Castillo,” Levine told Krall, “to which you very kindly said to me, ‘you don’t have possibly enough in your whole organization to get Luis Castillo.’ To which I said, I also would like to express interest in Tyler Mahle, to which you said, ‘now, that’s a conversation we can have.’ ”
Mahle would go on to make only nine starts in the regular season, and none in the postseason, because of various injuries.
More news: MLB Players Association Blasts League’s Salary Cap Proposal
“I think that’s one of those (trades) where you feel bad about it on the other end,” Krall said, “but you had to make it at the beginning.”
The Reds ended up trading Castillo to Seattle in July 2022. They received a package of four players, headlined by utility player Noelvi Marte, who helped Cincinnati end its five-year playoff drought in 2025.
More news: A Former General Manager Just Destroyed MLB’s Pro-Salary Cap Argument
Castillo helped the Mariners reach the American League Championship Series for the first time ever last season. But this year, he’s been a spare part in a deep rotation, going 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 games.
The Mariners have recently taken to piggybacking Castillo’s outings with Bryce Miller. His relief appearance May 19 against the Chicago White Sox was the first of his career. If Castillo finds himself on the trade block again, expect Mahle — who was 1-7 with a 6.04 ERA for the Giants before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain — to be available for less. Again.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
Read the full article here
