The Cincinnati Reds are selling ahead of the trade deadline. They are one of the worst teams in baseball and have stated their rebuilding intentions. One player who might be the most coveted trade candidate ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline is Luis Castillo. Castillo is a veteran starting pitcher who has emerged as star over the past few years. And with just one year of team control remaining, Castillo is a prime trade candidate.
But who might Luis Castillo be traded to? Let's take a look at the 4 best destinations for Castillo.
Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
4 best destinations for Reds' Luis Castillo ahead of 2022 MLB trade deadline
The Toronto Blue Jays are in the midst of a solid season. However, the Blue Jays have a long ways to go if they hope to catch the Yankees in the AL East.
The Blue Jays feature one of the best offenses in baseball. Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette, and George Springer lead an elite lineup with no shortage of power. But Toronto would benefit greatly from adding pitching.
Other than Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah, the pitching staff has labored at times. But if the Blue Jays can make a move to acquire Luis Castillo, it would immediately enhance their rotation.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have a decent pitching rotation. Adam Wainwright is still performing well in his 40's, while Miles Mikolas is in the midst of a resurgent campaign. But Jack Flaherty has dealt with injuries and the rest of the rotation has question marks.
So swinging a deal with the Reds makes sense. Luis Castillo would provide St. Louis with an extra front line starter. He and Flaherty would make for a dominant 1-2 punch upon his return. More importantly, the Milwaukee Brewers are a ball club that prioritizes starting pitching. So the Cardinals would have a better chance of competing with the Brewers if they added a pitcher such as Castillo.
The Dodgers have previously been linked to Luis Castillo. They have endured a number of injuries in the rotation which makes acquiring Luis Castillo a plausible option. Additionally, pitchers such as Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson are enjoying breakout campaigns. But neither feature much of a track record, so one has to wonder how long they can keep dominating at a high level.
Castillo's presence would be crucial for the Dodgers rotation.
And LA's pitching staff would be unfair once they are fully healthy. A rotation of Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, and Luis Castillo seems made up. I expect the Dodgers to be in the Castillo sweepstakes ahead of the 2022 MLB trade deadline.
The Yankees are another ball club that would be difficult to leave off this list. New York's pitching staff has been excellent in 2022. But pitchers such as Jameson Taillon, Jordan Montgomery, and even Nestor Cortes don't have wealth of experiences either.
Luis Castillo would slot in nicely behind Gerrit Cole for the Yankees. New York has legitimate World Series aspirations so strengthening their pitching should be a priority.
Are the Yankees good enough to keep playing well without Luis Castillo? Yes. But New York is a franchise that is never content. They will be in the conversation as trade season begins heating up.
Follow Us
Subscribe