In recent developments for the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason, starter Ranger Suárez remains one of the more notable players who could be moved, per The Athletic's Matt Gelb, in addition to Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos. As one of the pitching stalwarts of the Phillies’ big four in the rotation for the past few years, it could be quite the hole to fill if Suárez indeed ends up leaving this winter.
However, an intriguing trade proposal has arisen between the Phillies and the Seattle Mariners that could help ease the pain if it does come to fruition. As suggested by ESPN's David Schoenfield, Philadelphia would trade Bohm to the Mariners with veteran right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo coming back as the return.
Acquiring Luis Castillo from the Mariners would help ease the pain if Ranger Suárez is traded
The Mariners' 2024 third baseman Josh Rojas was non-tendered this offseason, leaving a gaping hole to fill at the hot corner. With a limited payroll to work with and Bohm’s projected $8.1 million salary in his second year of arbitration in 2025, he would fit perfectly into their framework.
As for the Phillies, they have already approached the Mariners in trade talks regarding Bohm. However, Seattle shot down the possibility of including young stud pitchers Logan Gilbert or George Kirby in the discussion. So perhaps if the Phillies were willing to take on a more seasoned veteran with a heftier contract in Castillo, who has a $24.15 million annual AAV in his upcoming three seasons, they might be able to get something done.
Castillo is definitely no slouch either, as he has been among the top pitchers in the league since making his debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017. With a career 3.56 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, with 1,331 strikeouts in 1,230 innings pitched over 211 starts in eight MLB seasons, he has been consistently reliable as a front-end of the rotation starter.
In case Phillies fans are worried about how he would perform in the playoffs compared to Suárez, Castillo has held his own, posting a tidy 1.83 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with one walk and 19 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings for his career in the postseason. Consequently, Castillo could actually be a trusted solid upgrade over Suárez.
If the Phillies want to move Bohm to the Mariners, they should seriously consider this potential elite pitching option. Castillo may be getting up there in age — he will be 32 by the time the start of the 2025 season rolls around — but given his proven track record as a durable and dominant rotation piece in the past, the Phillies can’t go wrong with such an investment that they can now obtain through trade.