Mariners report reveals bold trade plan with 'prized starters', with Luis Castillo likely

The Seattle Mariners are competing for the AL West or an AL Wild Card spot this season, despite their poor 47-49 record on the year.

But this team desperately needs to make some moves by the trade deadline to have a better chance of contending this season. To do so, they could get very creative.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Mariners are telling teams they will be open to trading from their "prized starters" this summer, especially Luis Castillo, to land one of two things: a right-handed hitter and a high-end reliever.

Mariners open to trading from MLB rotation for righty slugger and high-end reliever

"The Seattle Mariners are letting teams know that they are willing to trade one of their prized starters for a back-end reliever and right-handed hitter, most likely Luis Castillo," Nightengale writes.

Seattle could really use more help in the bullpen, and instead of using their prospects to land one at the deadline, they could part with Castillo to acquire some help.

The same goes for a right-handed hitter, which this Mariners offense sorely lacks, thanks in part to how poorly Rob Refsnyder has performed this season.

With the Mariners' six-man rotation, trading from that group would make a lot of sense. Of these starters, including Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Emerson Hancock, and Bryce Miller, Castillo is the odd man out.

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He has a 4.93 ERA with a 3-8 record this season, and the 33-year-old would make a lot of sense to move on from this summer if a team is willing to take on the right-hander's $22.75 million this season and in 2027.

Seattle is reportedly telling MLB clubs that a starting pitcher is available for trade, with Castillo likely the one to be dealt this summer. A right-handed hitter and a back-end reliever are the two things this club is looking for in return.

This would be a very interesting trade for the Mariners, but it makes a ton of sense. Their rotation is strong enough, even if they trade a starter, and being able to call up Kade Anderson if needed gives Seattle a great option for a sixth starter even after a trade.

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