The New York Yankees will likely need to cross their fingers that multiple starting pitchers hit the trade market by the deadline. With Gerrit Cole sidelined, they don’t just need a replacement — they need a true ace. And if only a few top-tier starters become available, New York could easily be outbid by more aggressive or desperate teams.
One option worth considering is Luis Castillo, the right-hander from the Seattle Mariners. Castillo has been one of the more consistent arms in baseball in recent years. But with the Mariners already struggling offensively, there’s a chance they could fall out of the postseason race by midseason, making him a potential trade candidate.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller named Castillo as someone who could be moved, especially if Seattle’s offensive issues persist. Heavy Sports even floated a hypothetical trade involving Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones — and likely others — to get a deal done, depending on what Seattle would demand in return.
Although Castillo currently has a full no-trade clause that lasts through the end of this season, the Mariners could have offloaded him before the year began, which would’ve saved them over $72 million from 2025–2027 — potentially freeing up money to go after stars like Pete Alonso or Alex Bregman. That opportunity is now gone, but if the Mariners continue to underperform at the plate, Castillo could still be on the move this summer.
The Yankees, who entered the 2025 season with high hopes for their pitching staff, were hit hard by injuries right out of the gate. That’s made their need for an impact starter even more urgent.
Interestingly, Castillo was reportedly made available by Seattle this past offseason, and the pitcher was aware of trade discussions thanks to communication between his agent and the Mariners’ front office. But talks never advanced far enough to ask Castillo to waive his no-trade clause. After this season, that clause expires, and he’ll still have two years and $48 million left on his deal, plus a $25 million vesting option for 2028.
Despite Castillo being available, it’s been reported that the Yankees didn’t show interest this past offseason. That’s a bit surprising, considering they were finalists to land him at the 2022 trade deadline — eventually losing out to Seattle. One possible reason for their lack of pursuit this time around is the signing of Max Fried to a massive eight-year, $218 million contract.
As for Castillo, he even joked that the Yankees’ strict grooming policy — which would have required him to cut his dreadlocks — may have kept him from being a fit. Still, with New York’s current rotation needs and Castillo’s consistent performance, there’s a chance their interest could be rekindled later this year.
