On Saturday evening, Jeff Passan broke the news that the White Sox (58-52) have acquired starting pitcher Luis Castillo from the Mariners (54-58). In exchange, Seattle received reliever Seranthony Dominguez, Triple-A outfielder Nolan Jones, and Double-A catcher Boston Smith.
Castillo, 33, is set to join the starting rotation on the South Side. In 2026, Castillo has posted a 5.06 ERA and a 4.57 FIP in 99 2/3 innings. It has been a down year for Castillo, who has only accumulated 0.6 fWAR this season. Overall, Castillo has put together an impressive career, posting a 3.65 ERA, a 3.78 FIP, and 27.0 fWAR across 10 seasons. Castillo is a three-time All-Star who finished fifth in the American League Cy Young race in 2023.
Castillo's numbers have declined significantly since last year (3.54 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 2.6 fWAR in 180 2/3 innings). This decline is noticeable, and the White Sox are aware that they are not acquiring the type of player that Castillo previously was. Castillo's fastball still has plenty of legs (95.3 mph on average, 64th percentile, slightly up from 2025). However, the effectiveness of his breaking ****** has declined sharply. Castillo's primary breaking ball and his second-most common pitch is his slider, which held opposing hitters to a measly .271 wOBA in 2025. By contrast, in 2026, batters have a .352 wOBA against it, a sizable increase. Repairing that slider is probably task No. 1 with regard to getting Castillo closer to his 2017-2025 self.
Castillo is being paid $24.15 million in 2026, and he is under team control through 2027, when he will earn the same salary. Most likely, Castillo will become a free agent at the end of the 2027 season. If Castillo pitches 180 innings in 2027, an option for 2028 will vest, and he will earn $25 million, but the White Sox would likely avoid that.
Domínguez, 31, is the only active major leaguer going to the Mariners in this trade. Domínguez has posted a 3.99 ERA and a 4.64 FIP in 38 1/3 innings as a reliever on the South Side this year. Prior to this season, the White Sox signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract. Entering the season, Domínguez was expected to be a high-leverage reliever, but he has not quite lived up to the hype.
#castillo #million
Castillo, 33, is set to join the starting rotation on the South Side. In 2026, Castillo has posted a 5.06 ERA and a 4.57 FIP in 99 2/3 innings. It has been a down year for Castillo, who has only accumulated 0.6 fWAR this season. Overall, Castillo has put together an impressive career, posting a 3.65 ERA, a 3.78 FIP, and 27.0 fWAR across 10 seasons. Castillo is a three-time All-Star who finished fifth in the American League Cy Young race in 2023.
Castillo's numbers have declined significantly since last year (3.54 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 2.6 fWAR in 180 2/3 innings). This decline is noticeable, and the White Sox are aware that they are not acquiring the type of player that Castillo previously was. Castillo's fastball still has plenty of legs (95.3 mph on average, 64th percentile, slightly up from 2025). However, the effectiveness of his breaking ****** has declined sharply. Castillo's primary breaking ball and his second-most common pitch is his slider, which held opposing hitters to a measly .271 wOBA in 2025. By contrast, in 2026, batters have a .352 wOBA against it, a sizable increase. Repairing that slider is probably task No. 1 with regard to getting Castillo closer to his 2017-2025 self.
Castillo is being paid $24.15 million in 2026, and he is under team control through 2027, when he will earn the same salary. Most likely, Castillo will become a free agent at the end of the 2027 season. If Castillo pitches 180 innings in 2027, an option for 2028 will vest, and he will earn $25 million, but the White Sox would likely avoid that.
Domínguez, 31, is the only active major leaguer going to the Mariners in this trade. Domínguez has posted a 3.99 ERA and a 4.64 FIP in 38 1/3 innings as a reliever on the South Side this year. Prior to this season, the White Sox signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract. Entering the season, Domínguez was expected to be a high-leverage reliever, but he has not quite lived up to the hype.
#castillo #million
2 days ago
