Mariners trade of $73.3 million star much more likely after no-trade clause expired

Billy Heyen

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Mariners trade of $73.3 million star much more likely after no-trade clause expired image

The Seattle Mariners just got a new option for how they want to build their roster.

For the past three seasons, Luis Castillo had a full no-trade clause in his contract. But that has expired now.

And while Castillo isn't anything approaching a must-trade player, he is the guy Bleacher Report named as the Mariners' most likely to be traded this offseason.

They do still owe him more than $73 million.

"It's not likely  Seattle would move Castillo," B/R writes. "We should probably throw a dart at one of the prospects instead, maybe 21-year-old middle infielder Michael Arroyo. But now they've re-signed Josh Naylor, in order to do anything else even remotely noteworthy to improve the roster, passing the buck on the up to $73.3 million still owed to La Piedra sure would help with the bottom line. Notably, Castillo had a full no-trade clause for the past three years, but that has now expired, leaving the M's with far more flexibility to shop him than they had last winter."

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Seattle does have a lot of talented young pitching that makes Castillo more expendable. A rotation helmed by Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby is already in a great place.

The Mariners don't really have a ton of holes, but they might have to replace Eugenio Suarez and/or Jorge Polanco this offseason, since both are free agents who might leave.

Castillo would probably be more likely to go to a contender and fetch a prospect return rather than MLB talent, but give he's still got decent club control and is a solid arm, Castillo could land a couple intriguing younger players.

The Mariners would have to decide to deal him, though, which is kind of the point of this exercise but also might just be something that is unlikely to happen.

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Contributing Writer