The Toronto Blue Jays need to make a splash. Not for lack of trying, but “Canada’s Team” has largely been on the outside looking in during the annual free-agent frenzy this winter.
Toronto’s latest snub was delivered via Corbin Burnes, who shied away from moving north of the border in favor of going to the desert with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
What the Blue Jays have been unable to accomplish via signing, the team may be able to do via trade. Fansided’s Eric Treuden muses about that scenario in noting that Toronto should be regarded as one of the favorites to swing a deal for Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo.
Seattle needs infielders, and Treuden lists Toronto second baseman Will Wagner as “an obvious fit for the Mariners” to possibly headline a trade return for the Emerald City.
Seattle remains reticent to deal away any of their “Big Four” young starting pitchers in Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo. But they are reportedly willing to deal Castillo, who is in the midst of a five-year, $108 million contract.
Castillo, the one-time ace of the Cincinnati Reds, has been a rock in the Mariners rotation since 2022. The eight-year big-league veteran has a lifetime record of just 73-76 but has a career ERA of 3.56 with 1,331 total strikeouts.
He is also remarkably durable, averaging over 26 starts per season since making his big-league debut in 2017.
Signed through 2027 with a 2028 vesting option, Castillo is set to make between $24 and $25 million a season — not bad value given today’s market and an investment that could boost Toronto either pursuing a free-agent bat or stash away to save for Vladimir Guerrero’s impending raise.
More MLB: Could Orioles look to replace Burnes with a 3-time Cy Young Award winner?
