Cubs could pursue electric Mariners ace pitcher to fortify rotation

Cubs Eye Mariners’ Ace Luis Castillo to Strengthen Pitching Rotation

The Chicago Cubs have been busy this offseason, making moves to enhance their roster.

After trading outfielder Cody Bellinger to the Yankees and acquiring Kyle Tucker from the Astros, their focus now shifts to bolstering the pitching staff as they aim to be more competitive in the NL Central. One of their top targets is Seattle Mariners’ ace, Luis Castillo.

According to an MLB.com article, the Cubs are actively seeking help in their starting rotation and have shown particular interest in Castillo.

The Mariners’ right-handed pitcher, who has been a dominant force in Seattle, could be a perfect fit for the Cubs. Castillo, a three-time All-Star, posted a solid 3.64 ERA last season, along with 175 strikeouts in 175.1 innings pitched.

His impressive performance in 2023, where he struck out 219 batters in 197 innings, highlights his ability to be a frontline starter.

The Cubs have struggled with strikeouts from their pitchers, ranking just 21st in the league last season. Castillo’s high strikeout rate would significantly improve the Cubs’ rotation, especially with left-handed pitchers Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd, and Shota Imanaga already on the roster.

Adding a right-handed ace like Castillo could be the missing piece to making the Cubs more competitive in the division.

However, acquiring Castillo won’t come cheap. At 32 years old, he still has three years and around $72.5 million left on his contract extension with the Mariners. The Cubs would likely need to part with some of their top prospects to secure the deal.

Despite the high cost, the Cubs have shown they are willing to take bold steps this offseason, especially after the acquisition of Tucker.

This willingness to invest in key players could set them up for a potential division title, something they haven’t achieved since their World Series win in 2016.

While the deal would be costly, it may be worth it for the Cubs to go all-in on Castillo to solidify their pitching staff and compete in the NL Central this season.