The White Sox’s deadline gamble on Luis Castillo has gone from shaky to downright brutal.
Chicago knew it needed help in the rotation, and instead of chasing one of the market’s bigger names, it took a swing on the Mariners’ struggling former All-Star. The bet was simple enough: get Castillo back on track, and the White Sox would have a front-line arm ready for a playoff push. It was always a risky move, especially with Castillo’s early-season struggles and the contract that still carries more than $20 million in 2027.
That plan has unraveled fast. After Castillo failed to deliver in his first several starts, Chicago sent him to the bullpen, a move that basically signaled the trade wasn’t working.
He then made three relief appearances and still looked nothing like the pitcher the White Sox were hoping for, allowing seven runs. Through 31.0 innings with Chicago, his ERA has ballooned to 8.42.
On Thursday afternoon, the situation got worse. Ahead of the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, the White Sox placed Castillo on the 15-day IL and recalled Tyler Davis from Triple-A Charlotte.
The club said Castillo is dealing with right shoulder impingement.
That timing naturally raises questions. Castillo may well be hurt, but with the season entering its most important stretch, plenty of fans will look at the move and wonder whether this is a convenient way to stash him after the bullpen experiment went sideways. At the same time, if there really is a shoulder issue, this late in the year is not the moment to push through it.
Either way, the outlook is ugly. There’s now a real chance Castillo doesn’t pitch again this season, and even if the White Sox manage to keep playing into October, it’s fair to wonder whether they’d trust him back in the mix. He brought experience, but he hasn’t brought results.
For GM Chris Getz, it’s a harsh outcome. Castillo was supposed to be a major boost at the exact moment Chicago needed one most. Instead, the White Sox are still scrambling for answers with the playoffs just days away.
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