Revisiting the Blockbuster Luis Castillo Trade Now
We are approaching the two-year mark of the blockbuster trade between the Mariners and Reds that sent All-Star Luis Castillo to Seattle. The Mariners acquired Castillo to be the ace of their already promising rotation and ultimately help end their 21-year playoff drought.
In exchange, the Mariners sent top prospects Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo to the Reds, along with pitching prospects Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore.
Luis Castillo’s Impact
Castillo has lived up to expectations for the Mariners. He has made every start, finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting in 2023, earned his third All-Star Game nod, and threw just shy of 200 innings last season. These achievements contributed to the Mariners signing Castillo to a five-year, $108 million extension just weeks after acquiring him in 2022.
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Evaluating the Trade: Noelvi Marte
Marte was the headline return for the Reds. He has shown promise, striking out less than 20% of the time and walking over 10% of the time while posting a 120 WRC+ in 35 big league games in 2023. However, his suspension for PED use this past March has set him back. Marte, now 22, has the potential to be a star third baseman with 30 home run power, but he needs to get back on track after missing nearly half a season’s worth of at-bats.
Evaluating the Trade: Edwin Arroyo
Arroyo has lost significant prospect status since the trade. Once considered a top prospect, he has fallen off most Top 100 lists and hit just .249 with a .749 OPS in High-A in 2023. He is sidelined for the entire 2024 season due to a torn labrum. Arroyo’s tools are still promising, but his recent setbacks put him a long way from the big leagues. His performance in 2025 will be critical.
Evaluating the Trade: Levi Stoudt
Stoudt had shown promise as a prospect, but his performance has been inconsistent. After a rough 2022 campaign, he struggled in the big leagues and Triple-A with the Reds, leading to his release. The Mariners claimed him, but he continued to struggle in Tacoma and was eventually DFA’d. He is now in the Orioles organization, working to regain form.
Evaluating the Trade: Andrew Moore
Moore’s start with the Reds was forgettable, but he has shown improvement in 2024. After a rough 2022 and limited 2023 due to injury, he has posted a 1.38 ERA in High-A and a 3.86 ERA in Double-A this year. Moore still needs to improve his command, but he is trending in the right direction.
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Closing Thoughts
The Mariners likely do not regret this trade. Castillo has been a frontline starter and a true ace at times. He fits well with the roster, makes every start, and is committed to the team for the long term. Despite not performing at his peak in 2024, he still has a 3.79 ERA and is on pace for a three fWAR season, with potential for a strong second half.
For the Reds, the success of this trade hinges on Marte and Arroyo. If Marte becomes a cornerstone player and Arroyo regains his 2022 form, the trade could be a win-win. However, as things stand, the Mariners appear to be winning this trade by a large margin.
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