SEPTEMBER 26: Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports the financial breakdown. Castillo receives a $7MM signing bonus and a $10MM salary for next season, followed by successive $22.75MM salaries between 2024-27. The ’28 options vests if Castillo throws 180 innings in 2027 and receives confirmation from an independent physician after the season that he hasn’t suffered an injury that’d require him to begin the following year on the injured list. The deal also contains a $1MM assignment bonus that’d kick in if he were traded at any point between 2025-27.
SEPTEMBER 24: Luis Castillo has gone from trade deadline prize to franchise cornerstone, as the right-hander has signed a five-year, $108MM extension with the Mariners. The deal could be worth up to $133MM based on a vesting option for the 2028 season, and that option vests if Castillo throws at least 180 innings in 2027. The Mariners can also receive a $5MM club option Castillo’s services for 2028 should he miss more than 130 days in 2025-27 due to a UCL repair procedure. Castillo will also receive a full no-trade clause for the extension’s first three seasons.
Castillo was slated to become a free agent after the 2023 season, but the Republik Sports client will instead stick with the Mariners for at least four years beyond that original date. The Mariners’ official announcement of the extension included statements from both Castillo and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.
“Luis has been one of the top pitchers in MLB over the past six seasons,” Dipoto said. “He is a dynamic power pitcher in the prime of his career with a track record of consistency. Bringing him to Seattle represented a key moment in our ongoing efforts to build a championship roster. Similarly, this deal illustrates our continued commitment to both the present and future of this team.”
“I feel great,” Castillo said. “Every baseball player wants to have a dream like this become a reality. I’m happy I was able to accomplish this with the Mariners and I want to thank everybody in the organization for treating me so well.”
Castillo, 29, began his major league career with the Reds, establishing himself as an excellent starting pitcher. From his 2017 debut through 2021, he made 123 starts and pitched to an ERA of 3.72. That mark is all the more impressive given the hitter-friendly nature of Great American Ball Park, with both Statcast and ESPN ranking it second behind Coors Field in that department. He was able to attain that level of success by getting ground balls on 53.9% of batted balls while striking out 26.2% of hitters faced, both of those numbers being much better than league average. He also displayed adequate control, walking 8.8% of hitters who came to the plate, a mark that’s roughly league average. He produced 14.5 wins above replacement in that time, according to FanGraphs, a mark that ranks among the top 20 among all pitchers in the league.
The most recent offseason got off to an ominous start for the Reds, as general manager Nick Krall said that the club “must align our payroll to our resources and continue focusing on scouting and developing young talent from within our system” in the wake of Tucker Barnhart’s trade to the Tigers. Trade rumors immediately began swirling around Castillo, along with his rotation mates Sonny Gray and Tyler Mahle. Gray would be dealt to Minnesota in March but the Reds hung onto Mahle and Castillo to start the year. Castillo was slowed by some shoulder soreness early in camp but returned to the mound in May and didn’t show any rust when retaking the hill. Through 14 starts with Cincy, he had an ERA of 2.86 along with a 47.1% ground ball rate, 25.8% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate.
Despite Castillo’s contributions, the Reds unsurprisingly got poor results overall with their ongoing selloff. Castillo was once again the focus of trade rumors as the deadline approached, with the Padres, Twins, Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Cardinals and Astros among those showing interest. Ultimately, the Mariners won the bidding by sending prospects Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore to Cincinnati. Since the trade, Castillo has continued his excellent season by making another nine starts with a 2.83 ERA, 29.1% strikeout rate, 5.9% walk rate and 46% ground ball rate. It seems the M’s got exactly what they wanted out of Castillo and locked him up long-term.
The price point is something of a surprise, given the most recent comparison is probably José Berríos. After being acquired by Blue Jays last year, Berríos was heading into his final year before free agency but agreed to a seven-year, $131MM extension. Berríos is having a terrible year here in 2022 but was actually on pretty similar footing to Castillo when he signed that deal. From 2017 to 2021, Berríos produced 15.2 fWAR, the same stretch that saw Castillo produce 14.5. Castillo has agreed to delay his free agency in exchange for less money and fewer years, though a higher average annual value. Berríos’ deal comes with an AAV of $18.7 whereas Castillo’s is $21.6MM, though if he vests the option it would take it up to $22.17MM.
For the Mariners, it’s still a significant investment in a starting pitcher, their second in the past year. They signed Robbie Ray to a five-year, $115MM deal back in November. Those two will now continue forming a core in the rotation for at least the next four seasons after this one. Logan Gilbert, whom the club drafted and developed, isn’t slated to reach free agency until after the 2027 season. George Kirby is one year behind Gilbert and should be around through the 2028 campaign, giving the M’s a core four that can anchor the rotation for quite some time. There’s also Marco Gonzales, whose contract runs through 2024 with a club option for 2025. The club is so awash in starting pitching that Chris Flexen, who triggered a vesting option for 2023, has been bumped to bullpen duty despite a 3.69 ERA on the season.
The Mariners haven’t made the postseason since 2001, the largest active playoff drought in the majors. They are well-positioned to snap that streak here in 2022, currently holding down the final American League Wild Card spot with a three-game cushion over the Orioles. With their rotation seemingly set for years to come and a position player core that includes Julio Rodriguez, J.P. Crawford, Eugenio Suarez and others, they should continue competing into the future as well.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan (Twitter links) was the first to report about Castillo’s extension, and the clause related to the UCL injury. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reported the 180-inning threshold for the vesting option, and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported the details of Castillo’s no-trade protection.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
That’s a Casteal
This is an excellent decision by the Mariners giving an extension to Castillo and the contract looks good for a five year deal. Great job by Dipoto.
Francys01, it is excellent, as you say.
I hate to say it, but “next year” is about all we have left, what with the sloppy way the team seems to be playing now.
I am afraid they have given up on this season.
Given up??? Come on Fred… I’ve seen your perspective for years and regard you as a true fan and connoisseur of Seattle Mariners baseball. But to suggest they’ve given up? I’m disappointed in you.
Do they look off? Yup. Do they look down? Yup. With Geno and Julio out do they seem lackluster? Sadly… oh yeah! But do I believe they’ve given up? Not at all. They just need to weather this storm and find that momentum. Once they get home… they’ll be able to settle in to finish the regular season and then secure that post season birth that has eluded all Mariners and fans.
OK, BabyBoyBlueDiamond, I am greatly cheered and restored by your comments here.
And, by the way, I regard you as a real Mariners connoisseur too. A genuine baseball guy is hard to find these days.
So I will be looking for some good baseball into October and hopefully beyond.
They’re third in the WC and three games clear of the Orioles…do you honestly think they’ve given up? Please.
No wayneroo, I just got discouraged by the sloppy play yesterday.
Well, I hear that. Go M’s!
I am not seeing the downside of being the third wild card. The Mariners don’t want to play Tampa or Toronto. Cleveland seems to be the best matchup anyway. Then they would play the Yankees if they advanced and not face Houston, Tampa, or Toronto until the ALCS. I’m not suggesting that they are doing it on purpose, or that it is awesome to end the season playing poorly, but it might just work out fine.
Honestly, I don’t think anyone wants to play Cleveland. They are quietly on a serious roll with the least amount of pressure. No one expected it and they’re gonna win the Central.
Given up l?? They just got decimated with injuries and they didn’t give up
@rondon- Mariners took 6 of 7 against Cleveland just a couple weeks ago. Momentum or not, our pitching matches up well with what their bats provide. Mariners will not want to get into a slugfest with anyone.
Also, Cleveland might just have peaked a bit too early.
Seattle’s pitching matches up well to them. They bear Cleveland 6 out of 7 times this year.
I sure hope the BP has gotten the awful way they pitched today out of his system. I switched to the Hawks game then switched back as the bleeding started. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Luckily as a welder I knew how to help ease the burning in my eyes. Raw potato in a wet washcloth. It was so painful to see.
Millville You sound like the moronic San Fran fans that said the same when the Hawks moved to the NFC. Do a bit of research. There were years of low attendance but still better than teams better than we were.
We have games sold out and more will be the closer we get to the playoffs. If we have a home playoff game will sell out fast.
The Hawks just had their 146 consecutive sell out Kraken season tickets were sold out in less than a minute Sounders are one of the top teams in attendance and the Sonics had fans at the games but were stolen by a corrupt commissioner and a sleaze bag of a human.
I would say that Seattle teams have fans and name a team that has caused an earthquake. Sorry but your moronic statement does not hold up to a bit of scrutiny.
Hey Fred, I’m having a little discuss with the way that game finished 13 to 12 the other day, and thought like you how are they going to finish after that but also they haven’t been playing well Without Julio, and Sauarez in the lineup it doesn’t help matters when France has lost some of his vivala France, it’s a long season what worked yesterday doesn’t mean it will work for tomorrow..
Yeah, lee. Well, today we see how a day off might have helped them.
Go Mariners!
Or… not?
Wow, something that feels like an accurate payday (actual value vs. market value) for both player and team, seems so rare these days. Also a pretty nice place to live, win-win.
Agreed. Interesting, though, that Castillo has yet to get even a single vote for the Cy, and has only led the league in walks surrendered, and losses.
$100m+ just doesn’t buy what it used to. (Shrugs)
Whahoo
Why Cashman, why are you still out GM? Volpe is not worth losing Castillo over. Montas on the IL, where are we now!
*insert confused nick young gif here*
Lol
I’m first place jfc shut TF up.
That’s not a big boy comment is it! It’s staring pitching that wins titles if ya didn’t know! Gerrit Cole as much as I like him has given up 31 gopher balls this year…who’s #2 Sevy, love the guy but ya cannot count on him to be a horse.
Cole was a 5-6 rWAR pitcher from 2018-2021.
Is 2022 the beginning of the long slide to retirement for a pitcher going on 32, with 2000 innings on his arm?
Probably so.
How do you know Luis Castillo would have been great here? Montas was dominating for the athletics too.
If Luis Castillo came here and sucked and volpe ends up being an all star you’d rip cashman for that too. I can’t stand fake fans like you who do nothing but second guess.
Bc Castillo has a track record of being great as montas has a track record of being hurt. 2 months later- what do ya know – Castillo is ballin and montas is hurt
That is a load of bs Man U r saying all this after the fact
Better check Castillo’s injury history before you make that comment. He’s only pitched a combined 140 innings the last 2 seasons. He’s no workhorse either.
139 innings this year..187 last year. 70 in shortened 2020. Nt sure where your numbers coming from.
Castillo has a track record of being a 3-4 rWAR pitcher who has never recorded a single Cy vote, and has only led the league in losses, and in BB allowed.
@Mad Hatter He’s close. Pro rate 2020 and Castillo’s averaging 30+ starts per season, 2018-2022. Add in the postseason so far and round it to 31.
If he’s missing only 2 starts per, that’s v v close to “workhorse.”
Settle down, bro. Cashman messed up. It’s ok, unless Volpe is your biological father??
Makes what they gave up for him worth it for sure. That’s a nice team friendly contract in todays baseball
Seems more like a market value deal. Castillo’s good, but he’s hardly great. A career FIP of 3.66 in the NL and a WHIP over 1.200 since 2019 is not the stuff of greatness.
Goodness, even very goodness–but he’s shown he’s capable of an ERA almost 4.00, and a WHIP of 1.364 in a season. If he’s your ace I’d expect you’ll come up a little short.
I could be wrong but wasn’t Peraza the rumoured big piece who would have been going to Cincinnati, not Volpe?
The Reds got 2 of the top 3 Mariners contract and actually volpe and either peraza or Dominguez would have been included. But they definitely asked for volpe.
Yes the Reds definitely asked for Volpe from the beginning, and we’re told no for Castillo. Peraza+ would have definitely got it done. The Yankees said no though.
Peraza plus was to lite when the Mariners parted with Marte and Arroyo plus they just outbid the Yankees simple as that. The only way the Yankees were getting Castillo once the Mariners did Marte and Arroyo was by trading Volpe.
@Bruin1012- If the Yankees offered Peraza, Sweeney and Waldichuk from the beginning then Castillo would of been a Yankee for sure, but they didn’t. That was my point. Will Peraza be a star? Who knows? The jury is still out on that. We’ll see.
I still think the Mariners offer trumps that offer and the only way that would work for the Yankees if they jumped earlier in the season. Once the Mariners offered Marte and Arroyo they weren’t going to be trumped. I think Marte is very close in value to Volpe maybe Volpe has a little more value but not a ton more.
@AllRise, the Mariners offer was still better than that.
Plus, can Castillo pitch with a haircut? : -)
Not many can pitch with a haircut…..
@jdgoat- Yes you are right. The Yankees were hesitant at lst to give up Peraza at lst, and we’re offering Dominguez, Sweeney and Waldichuk. Then the Yankees changed their minds regarding Peraza+, by then it was to late, then the Mariners swooped in offering 3 shortstop prospects including Noveli Marte.
Can’t give up Volpe for Castillo. I definitely would of given up Peraza for him though. The Yankees had that opportunity early on though, and passed. This is a great deal for the Mariners, with this extension for Castillo. A no-brainer.
@yankees2323- Can’t give up Volpe in a Castillo deal. The Yankees had an opportunity to trade Peraza in a package for Castillo early on, and for some reason passed. Excellent decision by the Mariners with this extension for Castillo. It’s definitely worth it.
Volpe will be a star. Rate this non-trade in 2-3 years.
He’s still your GM b/c ownership is interested in the team only wrt revenues. That’s been consistent, Hal is comfortable with Cashman, so you’re condemned to Brian’s brand of wealthy mediocrity for the foreseeable future.
Startling, though. Imagine being this disinterested in your own team.
Though I suppose it runs in the family. Under George the Yankees missed the postseason for 13 consecutive years. This is at least marginally better.
wrong castillo linked
baseball-reference.com/players/c/castilu02.shtml
Luis Castillo is the right one inked. Diego Castillo is already under contract.
There’s more than one Luis Castillo and the one linked here is info
There’s more than one Luis Castillo and the one linked here is incorrect
This guy is better than Gerrit Cole, younger at the age of signing for 1/3 of the price. LOL Yankees
Dope for Mariners.
Any time you have an ace for $20MM, its a great deal!
The only question in regards to Castillo is how he’ll do in the playoffs. He can be an ace in the regular season, and be a disaster in the playoffs. We’ll see.
Mariners are a great team. But he would have wanted to be a Met if he wanted a ring.
Where’s the ring? Moron
they JUST won, Tanner! ’86 is like yesterday!
How would he have gotten a ring yet moron? The season isn’t even in the postseason.
Damn, yall are real nice and friendly!
1986 much?
Good for the M’s. Castillo has pitched well in Seattle and the top of the Mariners rotation is going to be good for a while
Feels like he left money on the table
My first thought as well. Seems like a good deal for Seattle.
He could of made more had we waited to be a FA. But he got security now and could sustain a career threatening injury at anytime. No need to 2nd guess his thought process.
He did have one more arbitration year and then would have needed to turn down a QO. So some discount for that but yes still a really good deal for Seattle.
A lot of money.
Seems like Castillo left a lot of money on the table considering how close he was to free agency. Another good extension for the Mariners
Love it love it love it! Why would he work for such a low amount, I am beyond stoked! Mariners have 4-elite starts locked up for 5 seasons. Now get some offense and this team is set to go on a roll. Finally, My God all Mariners fans deserve it. And Yankee fans, go cry to someone who cares. I can’t wait to see Judge walk as a free agent just like Cano. Good luck!
You killed it for 3/4 of a post, no need to inc NYY in this post tho at the end
Im excited as well for Sea, Jerry has been given a terrible wrap from the Orange County Angels hangover stench
yes…a terrible wrap. a Reynolds wrap, if you will. (curses…foiled again!)
Congrats on being relevant for the first time in 21 years. Seattle fans act like they’re something more than a middle of the pack fan base when in reality you’re somewhere between Diamondback and Ranger fans.
Yankees are lucky Cano walked in free agency, what a moronic comment. Maybe do some research first.
Not to be that guy but the painful reminder was the Yankees chose to peruse Jacoby Ellsbury over their star at the time second baseman. It’s would you rather burn your death or drown given how both contracts panned out but at least Cano was able to suit up after taking his “vitamins”.
Cano!!!! Wtf that wasnt even a roast why not just say carl pavano. Or kevin youkilis what an idiot
Cano !!!! That wasnt even a diss glad cano didnt resign
Felix Hernandez Lite
Deep pitching staff for years to come , contender , beef up the lineup and you’ve got a perennial contender. Been unfortunate with injuries to Lewis JRod now , but some health and better bats in the holes be a good team for a long time.
BRILLIANT!!!
Great news for the Mariners. Prospect cost for acquiring Castillo hurts a lot less with this extension.
Had a discussion about the Castillo deal with a buddy today…what if those prospects were traded for Soto instead? We traded a strength ( prospects) to strengthen a strength( pitching)….. Basically we went from Flexen starting with Soto in LF to Castillo starting and Wanker in LF…….. however it waould have taken way more $$$$ to sign Soto to a 5 year deal… Please comment
The prospect cost to acquire Soto would
have been even greater than what Seattle gave up for Castillo.
Soto had reportedly already turned down a contract extension with the Nationals worth about 4 times the extension Castillo just signed. Maybe Seattle could have ponied up even more than that to reach a Soto extension. But then they’d have a lot less money and even fewer prospects to fill in other holes.
With no Soto extension they’d have 2 more years of Soto versus 5+ with Castillo, at maybe a little more salary in 2023-2024, with less prospect and pitching depth for making any future additions. And one more quasi-DH/poor defensive OF on the roster. IMHO they’re better off with the moves they made.
Reds could have made this deal.
Luis would have gotten more in FA.
Congratulations to the M’s.
Krall you stink.
That thought process is the downfall of reds and has been for decades. Reds actually cannot afford him, or votto or Phillips or Bailey or castellanos (well maybe him) and maybe disco, lorenzen and Mahle, but you can’t afford none of those dudes when u pay someone else 20 mil+ over several years.
The only way reds will ever be competitive is building an organization through its farm and trading away talent at peak value to keep refurbishing the farm. As well as Signing players young to team friendlys.
Stop trying to compete w dodgers and Yankees. Instead compete w rays and A’s. That’s the only way reds will ever be decent consistently moving forward
The Reds could definitely afford this contract. If they can’t then they need to sell, like sell as in tomorrow not next week, month, or year.
The Reds have never attempted to be the Dodgers or the Yankees, and this contract in comparison to FA deals for other top starters is a steal for any club – large or small.
Have you seen the books? Hard to say someone could afford a contract without knowing their expenses and profits.
No more than they’ve drawn this year, I doubt it. I think it’s more about where they chose to spend, like the Minor contract.
I get the feeling going forward, instead of a big franchise player contract, there will be two or three solid player contracts. Unfortunately, that’s the way small markets have to operate. The Rays, Twins and A’s are examples of small market teams who have generally done it right over the years.
People did not care for her, but despite her faults, Marge Schott did pay her players and have a competitive team year in and year out.
With small market teams, it will always be about how much WAR you get for each million spent. That’s unlikely to be with FAs.
For all the guys they traded, released, or let leave as FAs, the only producing so far are Suarez & Castillo. If you add the bWAR of Gray, Barnhart, Miley, Winker, and Castellanos, it’s less than what they got out of Drury & Pham, and even those two guys were flipped for more prospects.
I don’t need to see the books. You’re talking about a league made up of 30 monopolies which brings in 13B$ in revenues yearly.
You’re right this is modern baseball economics and constantly churning rosters just to be “decent” is a garbage proposition for small market fans. We’re paying MLB rates to watch a MiLB sports team for 9 years a decade.
Dodgers and Yankees should go launch their own rich man’s league so the rest of baseball can actually have a balanced competitive sport. Castillo deserved to get paid well and Reds fans deserved to see him retire a Red.
Krall didn’t want the fire sale. The stench starts with Manfred and complacent owners like Castellani and untouchable family employees.
Sure the Reds or any MLB team could afford this contract. But they’re rebuilding and opted for more long term prospects instead. Once they have more pieces in place to build around, like the Mariners do now, you’d expect them to opt for the extension.
@coloradoRed
There’s always risk that he may not make it healthy to FA. Its always a trade off; top dollar later if healthy vs guaranteed money now, removing future risk of injury, or a down year.
Congratulations. Well deserved. Reds fan miss him. He was a great teammate by all accounts and a true competitor.
Absolutely.
This is what Rodon can expect in FA, which makes his FA somewhat interesting because I though Rodon would get far more than what Castillo just signed.
Rodon isn’t controlled by another year of ARB. Rodon will make more $.
This is essentially a four-year, 96 million deal when you deduct the first year (12/M through arbitration). The 24/year average is in line with other front line starters. I don’t see Rodon getting above that.
That’s a steal. Great job, Dipoto. Castillo gets his generational wealth but there’s still some for a FA addition in the offseason.
Great deal for the Mariners. Castillo significantly undersold himself by $100MM+ but he won’t worry about his next meal.
Might have just wanted to guarantee his money now rather than risk waiting. I don’t blame him. If he blows out his elbow next season, he would’ve been entering free agency with that as his platform season.
M’s need to buy low on winker now. Great time to lock him up and he’s too good of a hitter not to bounce back from this season
Wanker is unfortunately signed for next year. He is passive, slow, terrible defensively and lacks power
He also has the ability to win a batting title and can DH. Good time to buy low.
They need to dfa winker is that they need to do
Why? He’s currently at 6.25 million and won’t see a huge increase through arbitration. He’s stayed mostly healthy this year, and though his stats haven’t been great, he works counts and may rebound. He’s been very unlucky and the lack of a shift next year will help him. You also have oft-injured backups.
As long as he just Dh’s ….man takes bad routes and is painfullymslow
@bdh- Zero chance. He’s signed through next season and they’ll know he’ll likely bounce back, especially with the shift banned.
This comment truly baffles me.
MLBTR-9/25/22 Mariners Luis Castillo out with TJ surgery.
Hilarious
I looked at his career earnings and including this deal is just over 120 in 10 years. This is similar to what i said the jays should sign manoah for in 120/8
I wish the Angels had Monah. Maybe the Jays will take Adell off our hands for him.
UCL option is a good one. If it happens at the back end of the deal, rather than support his recovery and then watch him go pitch somewhere else, they get the option of a year on the cheap.
@Darragh McDonald. You got the AAV wrong 108/5 years is a 21.6 M AAV
The article says the extension is 5y/$ 108m with a sixth-year option. But with regard to the Berrios comparison, the AAV of Castillo’s contract is calculated as $ 18m. That doesn’t add up for me; the AAV must be $ 21.6m instead (or the $ 108m payable over six years). Or am I wrong?
Gruß,
BSHH
You’re right – the AAV is $21.6M. Darragh must have punched in “6” instead of “5” into the calculator, which would give $18M a year.
Even at $21.6M, that’s a pretty solid and fair number for a frontline starter.
Good, now start winning!
Seattle’s defense is a main reason why pitchers are comfortable signing there.
That must be it.
How does a pitcher clearly better than Gerrit Cole not even get half the money? Ridiculously low-balled Castillo
#1 He wasn’t a FA.
#2 Had he been a FA and Scott Boras was his agent he would of got a lot more.
His best days are behind him. Seattle will regret this within two years. That is if Seattle is still a city by then and not a crime infested war zone with decent coffee.
Slider, Tio Albert defied you last night haha. You didn’t think he was going to pull it off!
HE didn’t pull it off, MLB and Apple did. Complete sham show. The fix was in with his kids being there and a national audience. Plus he just happed to change his bat right before 699 and 700. That thing was corked tighter than a rare 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. His 700 will always have an asterisk.
Hahahaha That is EXACTLY what happened!
They still have good coffee?
Not any better than the rest of the country at this point.
15 years ago yes, Seattle had better coffee. The rest of the country caught up. Beer and Portland are the same way, used to be in its own league, today not so much, plenty of decent craft breweries all over now.
I remember the old days of looking for beer and coffee travelling outside of the NW, it was a horrifying ans tasteless experience mostly. How things have changed. These days it seems every street corner has a coffee stand that exceeds Starbucks in taste and quality and quality microbreweries and brewpubs dot the map. How things have changed on that front.
I had a cup of Starbucks, my kidneys started bleeding, the worst coffee in America, taste like aspirin, I’m certain Starbucks formulates their coffee to addict people to their coffee and their coffee only.
Best coffee is at the gas station or Dunkin.
I’ve been on this Panera Bread coffee club deal, $11.99 unlimited coffee monthly, but their coffee hasn’t been very good.
Those bean grinding machines at the gas station are grinding the beans and brewing up a nice fresh cup everytime.
Actually, MacDonalds has the best coffee, especially considering the price. I kind of like the occasionally Starbucks dark roast, but MacD’s is generally very good.
Many of the areas outside of Seattle aren’t so bad. I used to live in Kirkland and if I ever moved back, would go that direction for sure. I actually spend a lot of time there, between 20-25% of my time. I was a remote worker long before it was a thing. Ive been flying/driving between idaho and seattle forever. I spend a lot of time in Bothell and a lot of time in White Center, which is where I grew up, and can tell you one is not like the other. There’s aspects about it I don’t like, but wouldn’t have many safety concerns walking in Bothell at night. White Center I would have concerns even if I was driving a tank in the daytime.
Your ignorance is astounding
Still so mad the Yankees didn’t get him
FOREVER GIANT
So glad we traded him for Casey McGhee!
I love when the GM and player (agent) get creative with contract terms that reward great player production AND protect the team in some way if there is major injury.
Paying attention, Chaim?
Are you kidding me? The Reds couldn’t have locked him up to pair him with Lodolo, Greene and Ashcraft for that kind of money? Someone down on the river has some splaining to do..
You guys talk like 20 mil is pocket change. Maybe for the Yankees and Dodgers but not so much for most of MLB. Most seasons, 20 teams fans know there’s virtually no hope because their team was out spent.
That’s the problem with baseball that they fail to address every time. It’s obvious why the NFL and NBA are more popular now, they have level playing fields, unlike MLB. Management can mess it up, but that’s on them.
It is pocket change for ALL mlb franchises. It’s a matter of then putting that change in their own pockets though. It’s a league setup without consequence for being perennially awful. If relegation existed in the MLB, and they had to spend to stay in the MLB so they can keep getting those fat MLB checks, you’re dam right $20 mil wouldn’t be an issue.
If the Reds owner handed Castillo $20mil per year it would probably take his income down from $300mil a year to $280mil a year.
Huh? 20 mil is peanuts for an ace pitcher in today’s game, even for a cheap team like the Reds.
We need you today big dawg. KC has that nasty kid from Toronto on the mound whom Seattle has never faced. Should be a pitchers duel. Let’s get into their pen quickly
Gotta love not grossly overpaying for a frontline pitching. It’s a good deal for the Ms but back of the envelope calculations say this is more fair than it seems for Castillo, even as good as he is. Yes he left money on the table, but I doubt it’s actually 100m or close to that. He would have exceeded Robbie Ray’s contract but probably not by as much as everyone seems to think. At least I don’t think so. If he has a great 2023 than maybe, but that’s a huge stretch, he could also tear his labrum. To me this seems fair to both sides and love the UCL clause, it’s like the one Felix had, he had a 1m option at the end if he lost a year to TJS.
@bloomquist4hof Well said. That clause is very valuable to the M’s. Castillo has also never gotten a Cy vote, and has only led his league in losses and walks allowed. He’s a very good pitcher, but he’s not the best of the best, by any means.
Dipoto has assembled a nice core for the M’s. Relevant baseball is fun to watch. Looking forward to catching AL West action in Seattle.
Fine job by Seattle & DiPoto, and i don’t think they are actually at their apex yet. They can still improve.
This makes the Berrios signing looks really bad
Anybody look at what the Mariners paid? Only Noelvi Marte has real promise. That’s it. And for 1.33 years of Castillo and the opportunity to sign him? Jaysus. The Mets could have presumably had him for Baty and Vientos or Baty and Mauricio, plus filler. What a shame. The price was NOT high.