Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners agreed on a five-year extension. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the deal is worth $108 million with a full no-trade clause for the 2023 to 2025 seasons. There’s a $1 million assignment bonus if the right-hander is moved following that. In addition, a sixth-year vesting option can take it to $133 million. Castillo was slated to become a free agent at the end of the 2023 season. Instead, Seattle will keep their trade deadline acquisition for years to come.
Luis Castillo Extension
BREAKING: Right-hander Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners are in agreement on a five-year, $108 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. A sixth-year vesting option can take it to $133 million.
M’s got Castillo at the trade deadline and now lock him up for half-decade.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 24, 2022
An additional note to add to the contract that’s seen as a downside protection against any future injury. Even so, if Castillo undergoes UCL repair surgery from 2025-2027 that keeps him out for over 130 days, the Mariners receive a $5 million option on the 2028 season. Furthermore, his 2028 option for $25 million is there if he throws at least 180 innings in 2027.
Castillo is the second big piece the Mariners locked down this season. Seattle gave AL Rookie of the Year favorite, Julio Rodríguez a 14-year contract extension worth $210 million. The Mariners currently hang on to the third AL Wild Card spot with an 82-68 record. They lead the Baltimore Orioles by three games with 12 games remaining on the schedule.
Seattle needed an impact arm the deadline as they paid a price to do so. The Mariners gave the Reds their two top prospects in Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo along with starter Levi Stoudt and reliever Andrew Moore.
When he was traded to the Mariners, Castillo reunited with Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker. Both players were traded to Seattle by Cincinnati in March. Acquired from Miami in 2017, Castillo is a two-time All-Star who was 44-53 with a 3.62 ERA in six seasons with the Reds. The right-hander has a salary of $7.35 million this season. Castillo is 3-2 with 64 strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA in 54 innings. Altogether, opposing hitters are .212/.279/.332 against him.
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Players mentioned:
Luis Castillo, Julio Rodríguez, Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Stoudt, Andrew Moore, Eugenio Suárez , Jesse Winker
