The Seattle Mariners have been one of Major League Baseball’s most disappointing teams this year. After coming close to reaching their first World Series in franchise history, they are off to a 27-29 start, though they are also only a half-game back of the third American League wild card spot.
Their starting rotation is quite strong, but it would never hurt to potentially add one more arm to their mix. That’s where two-time reigning AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal could come in handy.
The Detroit Tigers aren’t showing any signs of recovering from the slump they went on after the left-hander went down with an elbow injury. Zachary D. Rymer proposed the idea of Seattle not only trading for Skubal, but dumping right-hander Luis Castillo.
“The problem the Mariners have right now is that their rotation is more than full. But lurking underneath that is a secondary debate of who would start Game 1 for them in a playoff series. Adding Skubal would clear that right up,” Rymer wrote.
“Involving Castillo would serve dual purposes. He’s owed $24.15 million this year and next, so sending him to Detroit would help balance the money. It would also prevent a crowded Mariners rotation from getting even more crowded.”
How This Could Work
The Mariners could potentially shed some salary by letting go of Castillo, who is truly having a difficult season. The 33-year-old right-hander and three-time All-Star is 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance.
He is signed through the 2027 season but also has a vesting option for 2028, so if the Tigers get him back for Skubal, then they would at least have a pitcher with a few years of club control, and he does have a strong track record at least, so perhaps a change of scenery could help him out.
The Mariners have gotten a lot of production out of Castillo, as he posted a 3.54 ERA in 2025, but him potentially going back to Detroit makes this a fair trade for both sides. It would also ensure that Seattle gets the best possible arm on the market.
Despite his struggles this year, Castillo does still have plenty of value and cannot be counted out as he looks to bounce back later in the season. He has done well with Seattle since being acquired back in 2022, so the Tigers would be getting a valuable pitcher in exchange for their ace if they do trade him.
What Skubal Brings
Seattle already has a deep rotation, but pairing Skubal with Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo would give them perhaps the best rotation in all of baseball, which could give them a big advantage in a weak American League as they try to bounce back from their ALCS loss.
Adding Skubal could make the Mariners the top challenger for the Los Angeles Dodgers in terms of competing for a World Series title. Seattle isn’t afraid to make big moves, so getting Skubal could be what they need to finally get over the hump and win a title.
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