The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten off to a strong start to the 2025 season as they are 5-1 and sitting in first place in the NL East. Their starting rotation has been a strength, posting a combined 3-1 mark with a 2.60 ERA and a league-leading 48 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched.
While the Phillies have five solid starters – Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Ranger Suarez – the final member of that group is injured and set to enter free agency after the season. The uncertainty around his future with the club could prompt Philadelphia to move him before the trade deadline.
Despite having Taijuan Walker and top-prospect Andrew Painter readily available for depth, the Phillies could look to make a move to bolster their rotation. One potential option could be Seattle Mariners ace Luis Castillo.
The three-time All-Star has consistently pitched well throughout his nine-year career. He has gotten off to a strong start in 2025, as well, as he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and nine strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched.
While Seattle has not indicated that they are preparing to move Castillo, they are just 3-4 early in the season. Furthermore, their starting pitching was a strength in 2024, as their rotation’s 3.38 ERA was the best in baseball.
Despite their strong rotation, the Mariners failed to reach the postseason last year as their offense was among the worst in the sport. They could look to move Castillo to bring in some bats with upside.
Although Philadelphia has a middle-of-the-pack farm system, seven of their top-ten prospects are hitters. If they decide to move on from Suarez – and Painter is not ready for the majors – they could target Castillo to solidify their rotation. The Phillies could use shortstop Aidan Miller, outfielder Justin Crawford, or catcher Eduardo Tait as the headliner of a potential deal.