Mariners' massive win in Luis Castillo trade reinforced by latest Reds demotion

At the 2022 trade deadline, the Seattle Mariners faced a pivotal moment in deciding the franchise trajectory. They were surging toward the postseason and desperately needed a front-line starter to solidify their rotation and end a 21-year playoff drought.

In a bold, headline-grabbing move, Seattle swung a deal with the Cincinnati Reds that sent shockwaves through both organizations. The Mariners gave up a substantial haul consisting of highly touted shortstop Noelvi Marte, rising infield prospect Edwin Arroyo, and a pair of right-handers in Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore. In return, they landed the ace they desperately needed in Luis Castillo.

At the time, there was plenty of excitement in Seattle. Castillo brought with him a proven track record, a career 3.62 ERA, and playoff experience. But there was also a healthy dose of anxiety. Marte was considered a future star, Arroyo was turning heads in the lower minors, and the arms had enough intrigue to make Mariners fans wonder if the cost might one day haunt them.

Three years later, the Luis Castillo trade looks like a clear win for the Mariners

Since putting on a Mariners uniform, Castillo has become the heartbeat of Seattle’s rotation. He’s been nothing short of brilliant, compiling a 6.5 WAR, earning an All-Star nod, and serving as the club’s ace during their 2022 postseason run. His presence helped establish one of the most formidable young pitching staffs in baseball, and his leadership has been instrumental in the Mariners’ competitive resurgence.

Castillo wasn’t just a deadline rental either — Seattle quickly locked him up with a long-term extension, ensuring that their investment would pay dividends for years to come.

Meanwhile, the Reds' side of the trade has struggled to produce much return:

• Noelvi Marte: Once considered the prize piece of the trade, Marte’s path hasn’t gone as smoothly as many hoped. After a rough 2024 campaign marred by inconsistency and an 80-game PED suspension, he still hasn't caught on in the big leagues. He won’t even get a chance to face his former team during Castillo’s Cincinnati return, having been optioned back to Triple-A right before the series begins. His MLB career WAR currently sits at -0.9.
• Levi Stoudt: The right-hander has seen brief time at the major league level but has yet to make a meaningful impact. He too carries a negative WAR (-0.3) since the trade and has bounced between Triple-A and the bigs.
• Edwin Arroyo and Andrew Moore: Both remain in the minor leagues. Arroyo, to his credit, still holds value as a prospect and ranks No. 5 in the Reds’ system for MLB Pipeline. But Moore has yet to make his MLB debut and seems unlikely to contribute in the near future.

It’s always tricky to declare winners and losers after a trade, especially one involving high-upside prospects. But nearly three years removed from the deal, there’s no denying how lopsided things look. Castillo has been everything Seattle needed and more. Meanwhile, the quartet of players shipped to Cincinnati has yet to benefit the Reds.

That doesn’t mean the Reds can’t eventually salvage anything from the deal. Prospects can bloom late, and Marte or Arroyo still carry potential. But right now, the Mariners are living proof of what it means to try to “win-now” and actually pull it off.

As Castillo prepares to take the mound again in Great American Ballpark, it serves as a poetic reminder of how one bold decision in 2022 set the tone for everything the Mariners have become.