Mariners tensions can't be ignored as Luis Castillo is floated as trade bait

The Seattle Mariners are reportedly ready to deal a starting pitcher, and you can hardly blame Luis Castillo if he wants to be the one who leaves. Maybe he's not the staff ace anymore, but he deserves better than to be done dirty in every which way.

Seriously, let us count the ways. He was the first guy to get the short end of the stick when the Mariners first tried out the piggyback in May. And even when he was supposed to get the long end again, Dan Wilson let him down with an early hook. Then on Friday, Castillo didn't appreciate being left hanging by Randy Arozarena on a missed catch that preceded a home run.

Stuff like this would make anyone frustrated, and it's especially unhelpful for a guy having the kind of season Castillo is having. He's tracking toward career-worsts across the board, including a 4.93 ERA, a 1.369 WHIP and -0.6 rWAR.

And yet, the Mariners may be hoping that someone will take him on. And not only that, absorb all of the $32.3 million he's still owed through 2027 and send a right-handed hitter and/or a relief pitcher to Seattle.

Such is the gist from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, who reported Sunday morning that the Mariners are telling teams they're willing to trade one of their starters. Castillo is purportedly the most likely of the six to go, which is about as surprising as hearing the sun sets in the west. He's been the subject of trade speculation for years, including throughout most of this summer.

Mariners would be doing right by Luis Castillo if they traded him to another contender

The obligatory question is why another team would want Castillo, but the answer is more straightforward now than it was even as recently as a week ago.

Whereas Tarik Skubal, Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray and Sandy Alcantara once looked like obvious trade bait once upon a time, circumstances have changed. They and many other starters around the league suddenly pitch for contending teams, none of whom are in a position to spare an arm.

The Mariners are one of one in this respect, and the 33-year-old Castillo is doing them a solid of trending upward. He has a 3.65 ERA to show for his last 10 appearances, and he had allowed only three homers in the previous nine before the Tampa Bay Rays took him deep three times on Friday.

Even at the rate they're paying him, it may be possible for the Mariners to turn Castillo into a righty bat and a relief pitcher. Heck, we pitched a Taylor Ward-Rico Garcia trade with the Baltimore Orioles just the other day.

Whatever the case, a parting of ways is best for everyone. Intentionally or otherwise, Castillo has had both his patience and his pride tested this season. And whereas Kade Anderson will have a red carpet at his feet once he arrives in Seattle, there's probably nothing but further humiliation waiting for Castillo if he stays. The Mariners would almost certainly have to stash him in the bullpen, a place where no three-time All-Star starter ever wants to go.

On another team, Castillo might be a Game 3 or even a Game 2 starter. He's simply not going to get that kind of happy ending with Seattle this year, so the Mariners denying him that chance would only be another indignity.

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