The White Sox hoped Luis Castillo would give their rotation a boost when they picked him up from the Mariners at the beginning of August. Instead, they’ve gotten a reminder of exactly why Seattle was ready to move on.
Castillo’s Chicago tenure has already taken on a familiar shape: one flash of the old version, then a steady slide back into trouble. His second start with the White Sox looked like a revival. Against the Reds, he threw 7.0 scoreless innings, gave up just one hit and two walks, and struck out 10 while facing the club he began his major league career with.
Since then, though, it’s been rough. In his other four starts for Chicago, Castillo has allowed at least four runs every time. Over those outings, he has surrendered 31 hits and seven home runs in 22.1 combined innings.
That’s the version Seattle saw fade over time, even if the Mariners still had plenty to appreciate from his run there. He was a force in the 2022 playoffs, when he looked every bit like a staff ace, and last season he stood out as the most durable and reliable starter on a rotation that kept losing arms to injuries. But the decline was already there in Seattle, and now it’s only become more obvious.
For the White Sox, the timing is awkward. They entered this stretch leading their division by three games and owning the second-best home record in the AL, with a real shot to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
The problem is the pitching behind that position. Chicago’s staff ranks 26th in the majors with a 4.63 ERA, and August was brutal: the starters put up a 6.21 ERA.
That leaves the White Sox with a tough question about Castillo, too. Even with his playoff experience from 2022 and last year in Seattle, it’s fair to wonder how much trust Chicago will have in him if it gets there.
The hope was that a fresh start might unlock something. So far, it has looked more like the same pitcher Mariners fans grew frustrated with - and then some.
In Other News...
Mariners Just Made A Desperate Roster Bet For Their Playoff Push
The Mariners kept their roster moving Friday with a pair of late-season additions that fit the urgency of a team still chasing October security. Seattle signed veteran left-hander Hoby Milner after he was waived by the Cubs, giving the club another experienced arm it can turn to down the stretch, and also brought up outfielder Lazaro Montes from Triple-A Tacoma for his major league debut. It was a reminder that every roster spot matters now, especially for a team trying to patch holes while staying in the hunt.
To make the moves work, the Mariners designated utilityman Connor Joe and pitcher Nolan Kingham for assignment. Milners arrival gives Seattle a pitcher who is eligible to help in October if the club gets there, while Montes adds a fresh look to the position-player mix. It is the kind of roster shuffling that usually comes with a club balancing immediate needs against the long view, and Seattle made clear it is willing to keep adjusting as the push continues. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Have One Obvious Call To Make As Offense Keeps Sliding
The Mariners have spent enough time trying to patch around their offense that the next move is starting to look pretty clear. Even with the recent losses and a record below .500, they are still hanging around the playoff race, and that matters because the problems are not coming from one isolated spot. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez have had their moments, but the lineup as a whole has not provided enough steady production, and the pitching staff is leaning more and more on rookies as the season wears on.
Randy Arozarena has been the one regular who has looked like he is carrying his part of the load, with a stronger offensive run and better plate discipline backing it up. He still brings defensive concerns, but the Mariners need impact wherever they can find it right now, especially with the offense sliding and the margin for error shrinking. At some point, the question is no longer whether Seattle can afford to keep waiting on the lineup to catch up. It is which direction the club is willing to go to stop the slide before the standings leave less room to maneuver. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Finally Turn To One Of Their Most Intriguing Young Bats
The Mariners are giving one of their most closely watched young hitters a shot in the big leagues, with Lazaro Montes set to join the club in Boston for his Major League debut. At 21, the outfielder has earned the organizations attention with his performance in the minors, and his arrival adds a new layer of intrigue to a roster that has been searching for more impact from the younger side of its player pool.
Seattle also brought up pitcher Hoby Milner, who recently signed a minor league deal after being released by the Cubs, while designating infielder/outfielder Connor Joe and pitcher Nolan Kingham for assignment to clear space. Montes is the headline move here, though, and for the Mariners it signals a willingness to see whether one of their best internal bets can start translating his game to the majors right away. [Read more 🡒]