Seattle Mariners purchase Luis Castillo, ship bundle highlighted by prospect Noelvi Marte to Cincinnati Reds

The Seattle Mariners, trying to finish a postseason drought that stretches to 2001, acquired the perfect arm on the commerce market Friday night time in a deal for right-hander Luis Castillo of the Cincinnati Reds.

“He is top-of-the-line pitchers within the sport — he is actually established himself as a dominant starter,” Mariners supervisor Scott Servais mentioned. “We have got an opportunity to do one thing actually massive right here this yr. You must step out and take an opportunity now and again when you finally wish to get the reward, take slightly threat. Dominant beginning pitcher, and I am anxious to fulfill him.”

Minor leaguers Noelvi Marte, Levi Stoudt, Edwin Arroyo and Andrew Moore are headed to Cincinnati, the groups introduced. Marte, a shortstop, is the best rated of the group, with ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel rating him the 12th-best prospect in baseball forward of the season.

“We felt this was the perfect return we may get for Luis,” Reds normal supervisor Nick Krall mentioned.

The Mariners, led by star rookie Julio Rodriguez, are 54-47, 12 video games behind the first-place Houston Astros within the AL West. They’re within the second of three AL wild-card spots, a half-game in entrance of Tampa Bay (53-47) and two video games forward of Cleveland (51-48). Seattle gained its ultimate 14 video games earlier than the All-Star break, one wanting the longest profitable streak in staff historical past and the perfect run by any membership heading into the break since 1933. However the Mariners are 3-5 since, following an 11-1 loss at Houston on Friday night time.

Now, they’ve added the perfect accessible arm forward of the Tuesday commerce deadline, one who will be a part of an already-solid rotation that features Robbie Ray and Logan Gilbert.

It is a large pickup for a Mariners group that has not reached the postseason since 2001, the longest energetic drought among the many 4 main North American professional sports activities leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL).

A 29-year-old right-hander, Castillo is 4-Four with a 2.86 ERA in 14 begins for the Reds this season, placing out 90 and strolling 28 in 85 innings. His fastball averages 97 mph. He has a profession 3.62 ERA in six seasons, all with Cincinnati.

“It has been a lovely expertise,” Castillo mentioned by way of an interpreter. “To have my identify within the followers’ mouth and having them cheer me on, it’s one thing I’ll treasure endlessly.”

Castillo will not be eligible without spending a dime company till after the 2023 season, so the Mariners would have him for not less than the remainder of this yr and all of subsequent.

Castillo has bounced again from a career-worst season in 2021, when he misplaced 16 video games and walked a league-high 75 batters. His changeup has been his greatest pitch for many of his profession, however this yr, he’s truly throwing his four-seam fastball extra, and doing so with a variety of success. Opponents have whiffed on 39% of their swings towards his four-seamer, the best charge of Castillo’s profession and the best of any pitcher within the majors (minimal 300 four-seamers thrown).

Castillo has a 1.38 ERA in 4 begins towards the AL this yr, second to the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Clayton Kershaw (0.69) amongst certified pitchers.

The Reds have been transferring veteran gamers for prospects because the finish of the lockout earlier this yr. In March, they traded Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to the Mariners, and Thursday, they traded outfielder Tyler Naquin and reliever Phillip Diehl to the New York Mets.

They’re getting a haul from Seattle on this commerce, with Marte and Arroyo ranked among the many staff’s high 10 prospects forward of the season by ESPN’s McDaniel.

Marte, 20, has spent the yr for Excessive-A Everett, hitting .275 with 15 dwelling runs and a team-best 62 runs scored and 55 RBIs to go together with 13 steals coming into Friday.

McDaniel ranked Arroyo, additionally a shortstop, as Seattle’s eighth-best prospect coming into the season. The 18-year-old has spent the season at Single-A Modesto, hitting .316 with 76 runs, 67 RBIs, 13 dwelling runs and 21 steals.

Stoudt, a 24-year-old right-hander and a third-round draft choose in 2019, is 6-6 with a 5.28 ERA in 18 begins for Double-A Arkansas this season.

And Moore, 22, has a 1.95 ERA in 25 aid appearances at Modesto this season.

“Noelvi Marte has an opportunity to be an impression center of the order bat who can play shortstop,” Krall mentioned. “Edwin Arroyo identical factor — he has energy/pace combo, who can play shortstop. Levi Stoudt has an opportunity to be a significant league starter. Andrew Moore simply began to pitch. He was drafted final yr. He has explosive, explosive stuff. His fastball is as much as 102 with a plus slider.”

Cincinnati infielder Brandon Drury additionally may very well be moved earlier than the Tuesday deadline, together with a number of Reds relievers.

ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Related Press contributed to this report.