TORONTO, ON – MAY 20: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds walks to the dugout during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 20, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Expect to see these five teams mentioned in any future MLB rumors involving a trade for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo.
The MLB rumors about Luis Castillo possibly getting traded from the Cincinnati Reds began the moment the 2021 season ended. Despite a nice season last year, it was clear the Reds were looking to shed some salary, and dealing one of their prized starting pitchers was a strong possibility.
Castillo was a strong candidate to get traded even though he did lead the league in losses and walks last year. Considered to be a guy about to reach his peak, any pitcher-needy teams looking for a guy still in his arbitration years was a candidate to trade for him.
The Reds never did make a deal. However, with the trade deadline now a little over two months away, we should expect to see new MLB rumors about where he could end up. Right now, these five teams should be considered the favorites to pull off a deal for him.
5) MLB rumors: Tampa Bay Rays need to add a starting pitcher this year
The Tampa Bay Rays seem to know what they’re doing with only three true starting pitchers on the staff. They have taken the idea of an opener to the extreme. It feels like only a matter of time before this plan backfires on them.
The Rays should be a team seeking a midseason trade to acquire a starting pitcher like Castillo. He would make sense for them because of his relatively low salary and the extra year they could keep him around for the 2024 stretch. Even if they didn’t have interest in retaining him beyond this year, Castillo would be someone they could trade away in the offseason. It would be the exact type of move Tampa Bay would make to keep the payroll low and capitalize on a starting pitcher whose value remains high regardless of his on-field performance.
Each season, the Rays seem to masterfully outsmart many other teams with a low payroll and lots of wins. Unfortunately for them, it hasn’t resulted in a championship. The best way to meet all of their goals might be to go for broke with some big trades in the second half. Castillo could fit in nicely, even if it is for just two months.