The San Francisco Giants are in a tough spot right now as they try to strengthen their roster after losing out on Corbin Burnes.
Burnes, one of their top targets, signed a big six-year, $210 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, which has left the Giants searching for another ace.
With their rotation looking thin, they’re eyeing trade options, and one name that keeps coming up is Seattle Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo.
Adding Castillo could be a great move, but it won’t be easy.
Castillo, 31, is signed through 2027 and makes about $24 million a year, with an option for 2028 at $25 million before hitting free agency in 2029.
Thus, his deal makes him more affordable than Burnes.
He’s been solid throughout his career, with a 3.56 ERA, almost 10 strikeouts per nine innings, and three All-Star appearances.
While his 73-76 career record doesn’t stand out, his pitching stats make him a reliable option.
And the Giants need a pitcher like Castillo.
Right now, their rotation includes Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Hayden Birdsong, and Kyle Harrison.
They still need a fifth starter, and while some younger pitchers might compete for the spot in spring training, none seem ready for a full-time role yet.
Plus, Oracle Park is known for being a pitcher-friendly park, which could help Castillo perform even better.
However, trading for Castillo wouldn’t come cheap, and the Giants might need to offer significant trade assets.
The Mariners are looking for infield help, especially at the corner positions.
One possible trade piece is LaMonte Wade Jr., a consistent hitter with a career .351 on-base percentage and a great eye for walks—he’s walked over 15% of the time in the last two seasons.
However, he doesn’t have much power (his best year was 18 home runs in 2021).
If the Giants offer Wade, they’d still need to throw in at least one prospect to make it work.
Bryce Eldridge, their top first-base prospect, is likely off-limits, so the Giants would need to figure out another way to sweeten the deal.
Getting Castillo would also give the Giants a chance to fix an old mistake.
Back in 2014, they traded Castillo and another prospect, Kendry Flores, to the Miami Marlins for third baseman Casey McGehee.
But that trade was a disaster.
McGehee struggled badly, hitting just .213 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 49 games before being let go.
Meanwhile, Castillo became a top-tier starter with the Reds and later the Mariners.
Trading for him now would be a chance to make up for that blunder.
However, Castillo isn’t the only option the Giants are considering.
Dylan Cease from the Padres is another name floating around.
Cease is expected to sign a $108 million deal in free agency next year, but the Padres might trade him now to get value before he leaves.
Trading within the division is tricky, but if the Giants could pull it off, adding Cease would give them a strong, reliable arm for their rotation.
The Giants are also looking to improve their offense, and Pete Alonso is another player they’re keeping an eye on.
Alonso is known for his power but has recently leaned heavily on home runs.
Over the last two seasons, he hit 80 homers but batted just .229 with a .324 on-base percentage.
While Oracle Park isn’t the best place for a power hitter, Alonso could still bring much-needed punch to the Giants’ lineup.
If Alonso joins the team, it might complicate their long-term plans at first base.
Bryce Eldridge is viewed as the future at the position, but adding Alonso could mean shifting Eldridge to DH or even the outfield.
There’s also a chance the Giants could use Eldridge as a trade chip to address other needs.
Alonso’s contract could include opt-out clauses, giving him the flexibility to leave in a few years, so the Giants would have to consider the risks carefully.
The Giants have already made a couple of strong additions, like signing Matt Chapman for six years at $151 million and bringing in Blake Snell for their pitching staff.
These moves prove the willingness to spend, but ownership has shown some hesitation in going all-in on massive contracts.
They didn’t offer Burnes more than $210 million, which wasn’t enough to close the deal.
Now, with spring training coming up, time is running out to finish building the roster.
If they go for Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease, Pete Alonso, or someone else, they need to make a move soon.