After kicking off the season in Tokyo, the Chicago Cubs have already played more games than any other team this year. Justin Steele made his third start of the season on Tuesday, and Shota Imanaga is set to follow with his third start on Friday. With a packed schedule, managing pitching workload and limiting innings is becoming a major concern for Cubs manager Craig Counsell. Given these challenges, the Cubs will be closely monitoring the starting pitching market as the trade deadline approaches.
One team and pitcher the Cubs are expected to watch closely are the Seattle Mariners and Luis Castillo. The Cubs and Mariners were frequently linked during the offseason, and a potential trade for Castillo during the season is a logical move. Castillo, a three-time All-Star, has been remarkably consistent, holding a career ERA of 3.55, with only one season (2018) where his ERA surpassed 4.00. Should the Mariners be open to trading Castillo, Cubs GM Jed Hoyer should waste no time making a strong offer.
A potential trade offer from the Cubs could look like this: the Cubs acquire Luis Castillo, while the Mariners receive left-hander Matthew Boyd, right-handers Brandon Birdsell (ranked No. 8 prospect in the Cubs’ system) and Jack Neely (No. 16 prospect), and third baseman Gage Workman (No. 29 prospect).
This trade would allow Seattle to shed the remaining $72 million Castillo is owed and replace him with Boyd, whose contract is much smaller at $29 million. Additionally, the Mariners would gain two promising young pitchers and Workman, who impressed during Spring Training. If the deal goes through, the Cubs would not only address their pitching needs but also bolster their chances of becoming the frontrunner in the NL Central.
