The New York Mets' offense looks positively terrifying, but the starting rotation has some major question marks.
Ace Kodai Senga is coming off a season-long injury. David Peterson has never pitched a full season as a big-league starter. Frankie Montas had a near-five ERA last season, and Clay Holmes has been a reliever for the last six seasons.
Sensing a theme here? There's a world where everything might pan out perfectly for the Mets, but it would feel much better if there were a proven innings-eater near the top of the rotation to ease the pressure on all of the other projected starters.
Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners has been a popular trade candidate in Major League Baseball circles, and he could certainly make sense for the Mets. With three guaranteed years remaining on his five-year, $108 million extension, the Mariners may look to shed Castillo's salary and retain their four younger stud pitchers.
Recently, Caleb Moody of Just Baseball proposed the framework of a trade that could send Castillo to the Mets for utility man Luisangel Acuña, the top prospect who came up in September and even made the Mets' playoff roster.
"The Mets could satisfy the Mariners’ desire for a major league return and address their need for help at second base by starting negotiations around infielder Luisangel Acuña, who showed his worth in New York when filling in for Francisco Lindor after he went down with injury late in the regular season," Moody said.
"The near $25 million price tag that Castillo comes with would be no issue financially for the Mets and their deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen, who has showcased his extreme willingness to spend since taking over majority ownership of the team in 2020."
Castillo, 31, had a slight down year in 2024, going 11-12 with a 3.64 ERA. He struck out 175 batters, which is by no means a bad number, but if he could get back to his 2023 level (219 punchouts), he'd be a top-of-the-rotation lock for this Mets squad.
Now may be the time for the Mets to capitalize on trading Acuña, who had a paltry .654 OPS in over 500 minor-league plate appearances last season. Then again, his athleticism is tough to find in a utility player, and he's been showing out in the Venezuelan Winter League.
All trades come with risk, and the Mets have to weigh how much risk is worth the stability Castillo would bring to their rotation. Having the ability to take on as much money as they need to is certainly a nice tool to have in the toolbox.
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