It is the Seattle Mariners‘ turn this time to surprise the Baseball League. “The Seattle Mariners desperately need some offensive help after injuries to right fielder Victor Robles and second baseman Ryan Bliss will sideline them for at least three to four months,” Bob Nightengale said via Yardbarker. Marred by injuries, the Mariners are in dire need of bolstering their offense. For this reason, a team offered to replace their $108 million All-Star with a young infield player. What was unexpected, though, was the Mariners’ total rejection of the offer.

Well, there was a time when the Seattle Mariners were eagerly waiting for the offers on their starter, Luis Castillo. As part of their offseason strategy, their president, Jerry Dipoto, even expressed their willingness to trade him back in October. However, that didn’t go the way it was expected to, and Castillo trade rumors were soon put under the covers.

The rumors about Luis Castillo peaked, even though the team had a quiet off-season. While a majority of free-agent starters were looking for offers exceeding $200 million, Castillo didn’t give much thought to it. However, the Mariners were involved in discussions with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. The reason was that they were in need of an impact infielder, which both the teams possessed. However, Castillo received no advice or negotiations to waive the no-trade clause that would remain in effect until the end of 2025. Now, when another team approached the Mariners, they denied any such offer and clearly mentioned that no team is allowed to go for him as of now.

The team that once tried to trade him now does not want to leave him. Luis Castillo went 11-12 in the 2024 regular season, with a 3.64 ERA, 30 G, 175.1 IP, making 175 strikeouts and a 1.17 WHIP. Even in 2025, he has continued with his great momentum, making 15 strikeouts already at a 2.12 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. That’s probably one of the reasons the Mariners do not want to let him go.

Castillo, when asked about the negotiations, said, “I didn’t really have a big reaction. I mean, still left in my contract is that no-trade clause. But if the team had come to me in some negotiation, who knows what happens? It’s not the first time that my name has been linked to something like this.” He does not seem to be very concerned about the offers on the table based on what he said. Rather, he would like to focus on his game, knowing that he would still earn a $24.15 million salary from 2025 to 2027 every year. There’s another option to extend it for the 2028 season as well.

As the Mariners have declared their starting pitcher “off-limits“, let us examine what to anticipate from Luis Castillo’s Tuesday night game against the Cincinnati Reds, his former team.

Mariners $108M ace makes his way back to facing the Reds

In a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, the Cincinnati Reds will finally welcome back their former pitcher, Luis Castillo. The 31-year-old Dominican pitcher played for the Cincinnati Reds from 2017 until finally signing with the Mariners in 2022. Both the teams have looked great till now, as they are at the .500 mark with an 8-8 record. The red-hot form continues for both teams as the Reds handed the Pirates a defeat by 4-0, while the Mariners won by 5-1 against the Rangers.

Many Reds supporters still like Luis Castillo, who will probably start for the fourth time in 2025 during his first game against his old team. Looks like it’s going to be a tough fight, right?

Absolutely! Castillo has allowed only five hits in the five innings that he pitched without letting any scores. Meanwhile, the Reds are also ready with their starter, Hunter Greene, who went 2-1 against the Pirates at a 0.98 ERA. They even have Nick Lodolo, who also went 2-1 with a 0.96 ERA. However, with some of their players coming off injuries, the Reds seem to have an upper hand over the Mariners.

It’s going to be a great game and we all cannot wait to watch it, can we? Share your thoughts on who’s going to be the winner in the comment section below.