Mariners' former super-prospect is rewriting the history of the Luis Castillo trade

Blink and you might’ve missed it, Seattle Mariners fans.

When Seattle visited Cincinnati recently, the narrative practically wrote itself — a homecoming for Luis Castillo, who returned to face the team that dealt him away at the 2022 trade deadline. But instead of a fairy tale ending for the veteran pitcher, the Reds tagged their former ace for six earned runs over 4.1 innings. 

What made the timing even more intriguing was who wasn’t on the field for the Reds during that series: third baseman Noelvi Marte.

The former top Mariners prospect, and centerpiece of the return in the Castillo deal, had just been optioned to Triple-A to continue working on his approach at the plate. It was a move that further reinforced the belief that the Mariners had decisively won the trade. But how quickly things can change in baseball.

Noelvi Marte is flipping the script on the Luis Castillo Trade

Since being recalled, Marte has flipped a switch — and possibly flipped the narrative. The 23-year-old infielder has played in 16 games for the Reds in 2025 and has been lights out.

Through 63 at-bats, he’s slashing .328/.381/.586 with 19 hits, three home runs, and 17 RBIs. His 161 OPS+ is sitting among baseball’s elite, and perhaps even more impressive is the fact he’s only struck out nine times. Suddenly, the raw tools that made him a top-20 MLB prospect are translating against big-league pitching.

This is the version of Noelvi Marte that Mariners fans feared would come back to haunt them. Of course, it hasn’t been a straight line. Marte’s development was stalled by an 80-game PED suspension in 2024, followed by some inconsistency and frustration in spring training this year. But let’s be clear — he’s still just 23 years old. His story is far from over, and the last few weeks suggest there’s a new chapter developing quickly in Cincinnati.

Castillo, still capable of brilliance, hasn’t quite looked like the Cy Young contender the Mariners hoped they were locking down long-term. His command has been spotty, and he’s beginning to resemble the version of himself that struggled at times during a down year in 2024. It’s too early to sound the alarm, but we can’t help but notice that this trade may no longer be the slam-dunk it once appeared to be.

If Marte continues on his current tear, the Reds may not just come out looking even — they could walk away as the winners of a trade that once looked like a masterpiece for Seattle. What once looked like a checkmate for the Mariners could reveal itself as the Reds playing a deeper game of chess.