The Chicago Cubs seem like they could dominate the trade market this winter.
They hold one of the most intriguing potential trade chips in all of baseball as Cody Bellinger and his $27.5 million salary for 2025 could be a poor fit in Chicago. And they’ve been at the center of speculation as a landing spot for Houston Astros slugger Kyle Tucker, who could be on his way out.
Even with Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele at the top of their rotation, the Cubs could be looking to bring in another starter via trade. With that in mind, MLB.com’s Brian Murphy proposed a deal that would bring Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo to Chicago in exchange for Nico Hoerner, Cam Smith and Brandon Birdsell.
“Adding to the starting rotation is arguably the Cubs’ biggest need coming out of the winter meetings,” Murphy wrote. “However, they probably won’t be shopping at the top of the free-agent market, especially after (Max) Fried agreed to an eight-year contract worth $27.25 million per season with the (New York) Yankees. Castillo isn’t exactly cheap by comparison — he will cost about $24 million per over the final three years of his contract, which contains a $25 million vesting option for 2028 — but for a 32-year-old frontline starter who is reliable for a sub-4.00 ERA, at least 170 innings, plenty of strikeouts and not too many walks, he is a relative bargain.”
Castillo signed a five-year, $108 million extension with the Mariners in 2022, well before the cost for starting pitchers reached its current high. And, as a three-time All-Star, he could offer some veteran insight to Imanaga and Steele, particularly if the Cubs end up parting ways with Jameson Taillon.
The Mariners seem to have more concerns on offense and in the infield than among the pitching staff, which could make them interested in a trade that flips Castillo for some infield help.
“Thanks to Hoerner’s fantastic defensive skills, he ranks fourth among second basemen in fWAR since the start of 2023,” Murphy added. “Smith gives the Mariners a possible solution at third base, another troublesome spot on the infield for them. He likely won’t make an impact in the Majors next year, but the 2024 first-round Draft pick had a strong debut in pro ball, slashing .313/.396/.609 across three levels.”
Meanwhile, Birdsell would give the Mariners some future pitching talent to eventually reload a rotation that seems set for 2025 with or without Castillo.
With one of the deepest farm systems in Major League Baseball, the Cubs could look to retool their 2025 roster in any number of ways. Tapping into that system and shedding a veteran contract like Hoerner’s in exchange for a rotation boost might help them move in the right direction toward a return to the playoffs.
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