The Baltimore Orioles find themselves in an increasingly urgent situation as they enter the 2025 season with a glaring need to address their starting rotation. With the departure of top-tier ace Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the market for an established front-line starter is rapidly dwindling, leaving the Orioles with limited options to bolster their rotation for the upcoming season. As the team looks to maintain its competitive edge, acquiring a reliable ace becomes an imperative to push them deeper into the playoff picture.
A Rotation in Need of Help
Despite a wealth of promising young hitters and an overall strong roster, the Orioles’ starting rotation remains a weak point. In 2024, their pitching staff finished with an overall 4.25 ERA, which ranked middle of the pack in Major League Baseball. While this may seem serviceable, in a highly competitive division like the AL East, with teams like the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays, it’s clear that the Orioles need an ace at the top of their rotation to truly contend in the coming years.
For a team that’s on the cusp of a playoff run, the addition of a top-tier starter can be a game-changer. However, with Burnes already off the market, the options are becoming sparse, and the Orioles may now have to pivot to the trade market to acquire the caliber of pitcher they need.
The Case for Luis Castillo
One name that has consistently been brought up in trade rumors throughout the offseason is Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners. A three-time All-Star, Castillo has proven to be one of the most reliable and dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. Over the past two seasons, he’s put together two strong campaigns, with back-to-back 30-start seasons and over 200 innings pitched. His ability to eat innings and perform in the pressure cooker of the starting rotation makes him the type of pitcher the Orioles need to lead their staff.
Castillo’s fastball and changeup combination has made him one of the hardest pitchers to hit in recent years. He’s posted ERAs of 3.23 in 2023 and 3.42 in 2024, showing that he is consistently able to perform at a high level. With three years of team control remaining on his contract, including a vesting option in 2028, Castillo is not just a one-season rental; he offers the Orioles the chance to lock down an ace for multiple years, giving them stability at the top of their rotation.
Why the Mariners Might Move Castillo
For the Seattle Mariners, moving Castillo would be a difficult but necessary decision. Despite his elite performance on the mound, the Mariners are in need of lineup upgrades to remain competitive in the American League. With a solid pitching staff already in place, the Mariners have the potential to generate more offense, but their offense remains one of the weaker aspects of their roster. Trading Castillo would allow the Mariners to acquire prospects who could immediately bolster their lineup, creating a more well-rounded team for the future.
While Seattle might be reluctant to part with one of the best pitchers in the game, they could see this trade as an opportunity to retool and build for the long-term success of the franchise. Moving Castillo would allow the Mariners to acquire multiple impact players from the Orioles’ farm system, which is still stocked with talent despite the graduations of top prospects like Heston Kjerstad and Jackson Holliday.
A Potential Trade Proposal
If the Baltimore Orioles are serious about acquiring Luis Castillo, they will likely need to put together a strong package of young talent to get the Mariners to bite. Based on the current needs of both teams, here’s what a potential trade could look like:
- Baltimore Orioles Acquire: SP Luis Castillo
- Seattle Mariners Acquire: OF Dylan Beavers (Orioles No. 6 prospect), OF Jud Fabian (Orioles No. 10 prospect), and RHP Patrick Reilly (Orioles No. 13 prospect)
Dylan Beavers: The 6th overall prospect in the Orioles’ system, Beavers has tremendous upside as a power-hitting outfielder. He combines a solid approach at the plate with excellent raw power. Though he’s still developing, Beavers has the potential to be a future middle-of-the-order bat and would provide the Mariners with a potential cornerstone for their outfield.
Jud Fabian: Another outfielder, Fabian comes in as the Orioles’ 10th-ranked prospect. He has the ability to play both center and right field, which adds value in terms of positional versatility. Fabian’s combination of speed, defense, and offensive potential could help the Mariners improve both in the short and long term. His ability to hit for power and his speed on the base paths would complement the Mariners’ existing lineup.
Patrick Reilly: A right-handed pitcher who has been impressive in the minor leagues, Reilly rounds out the package as the 13th-ranked prospect in Baltimore’s system. While he may not have the same ceiling as Beavers or Fabian, Reilly offers value as a potential future contributor to a Major League rotation or bullpen. His ability to develop into a reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm or closer would provide depth to Seattle’s pitching staff in the years to come.
The Value of Luis Castillo for the Orioles
For the Orioles, adding Luis Castillo would provide immediate stability to a rotation that is filled with potential but still lacks a proven ace. While pitchers like Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish have shown promise, neither is yet established as a consistent, front-of-the-rotation type. Castillo, on the other hand, can step into that role immediately.
With Castillo at the top of the rotation, the Orioles would not only improve their pitching staff but also bolster their postseason aspirations. Castillo’s ability to pitch deep into games, alongside his durability, would help the Orioles’ bullpen, which has had its share of struggles in recent years, by reducing the need for overuse.
Furthermore, Castillo’s three years of team control make him an attractive acquisition for a team like Baltimore, which is on the cusp of contending for championships. The Orioles would have Castillo locked up at a reasonable price for the next few seasons, giving them time to solidify their lineup and improve their pitching depth even further.
The Cost of the Trade
Acquiring Luis Castillo would undoubtedly come at a cost. Giving up three top-15 prospects might seem steep, but the Orioles have a deep enough farm system to absorb the loss of talent. The trade would provide them with an elite starting pitcher, which could be the missing piece for a team on the brink of contention.
For the Mariners, trading Castillo could serve as a short-term setback, but the long-term benefits of acquiring three high-upside prospects could ultimately position them for sustained success. This trade could also allow Seattle to focus on improving their lineup, a necessary step for a team looking to advance in a tough American League.
Conclusion
As the Baltimore Orioles look to address their starting pitching needs for the 2025 season, Luis Castillo is a logical target. The Mariners may be hesitant to part with their ace, but for the right price, this deal could benefit both sides. With their farm system still loaded with talent, the Orioles are in a prime position to make a trade that could solidify their rotation and set them up for long-term success. If they can pull off a deal for Castillo, it could be the final piece they need to take the next step in their championship aspirations.
