The Los Angeles Dodgers have to be considered ‘in’ on every available top prospect, whether through free agency or trade. The Seattle Mariners have desperate needs in the infield positions which has led them to explore potential trade options to address those positions. While parting with any member of their young pitching core remains unlikely, the club has reportedly begun to listen to trade offers for veteran right-hander Luis Castillo, who has drawn interest around the league thanks to his fairly affordable contract and consistently above-average results.
Dodgers Longshot To Trade For Luis Castillo
Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors has identified the top contenders for Castillo. The Dodgers were listed in the third tier of teams who could navigate a trade for the three-time All-Star.
The Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Bluejays were all in the top tier, named Best Fits, followed by the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox in the next tier.
“The Dodgers are not known to have interest in Castillo but are always a threat to upgrade their roster and could certainly benefit from adding a steady, innings-eating arm like him to the cavalcade of high-octane arms with durability questions that currently make up their starting rotation.” writes Deeds.
According to Deeds, the biggest impediment is the Dodgers’ lack of tradable infielders.
“Even so, however, they have little to offer from their infield mix at the moment. Perhaps Gavin Lux could be a serviceable platoon partner for [Dylan] Moore at second base, but even adding a young starter such as Landon Knack alongside Lux seems unlikely to entice the Mariners to part ways with Castillo,” Deeds wrote.
Despite acquiring Blake Snell, LA remains active in the trade market, exploring potential upgrades to their pitching staff. The acquisition of Luis Castillo, who is owed $68.25 million over the next three years, would represent a financially prudent move for the Dodgers.
To facilitate a potential trade, the Dodgers could offer second baseman Lux, who missed the entire 2023 season due to ACL surgery. Lux, a former All-Star, demonstrated his offensive potential in the second half of the 2024 season, posting a .304/.390/.508 slash line.
Knack, during the 2024 regular season, showcased a solid performance with a 3.65 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and a 1.10 WHIP across 15 starts. However, his postseason contributions were less impressive, particularly in Game 2 of the NLCS against the New York Mets, where he allowed five of the team’s seven runs.