The tradeWhite Sox get: RHP Luis Castillo
Mariners get: RHP Seranthony Domínguez, C Boston Smith, OF Nolan JonesWhite Sox: D
Mariners: B+This isn’t great for the White Sox. Yes, they are desperate for starting pitching. Beyond Davis Martin and Sean Burke — who are reaching career highs for innings — there isn’t much reliable starting pitching on their roster.Chicago is, as of Aug. 1, a World Series contender. Laugh all you want at that sentence. But when you’re in first place and in position for a first-round bye, and play in this awful American League, that’s just a fact.Castillo has -0.7 bWAR this season, and the White Sox are absorbing Castillo’s contract, which includes the rest of this season, more than $24 million next season and potentially $25 million in 2028 if his contract vests.The White Sox need innings. Castillo will provide that. But they also need quality, given their position. Castillo has a 5.06 ERA and has served up seven homers in his past 17 innings.Chicago would be wise to part with high-end prospects to get a good starter before the buzzer sounds on Monday. They have a chance to do something special this year.
As for the Mariners, they may be the Mets’ top rival for the sport’s most disappointing team. In that aforementioned terrible AL, nestled in that league’s most terrible division, Seattle has completely flubbed a golden chance.They shouldn’t get tons of kudos for essentially salary-dumping Castillo, but the deal makes sense for president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. He flipped a struggling starter for a decent catching prospect and reliever, and some salary relief.But taken in the context of why this trade was necessary, it’s hard to heap too much praise. — Sam BlumMariners: B-
