Proposed SF Giants trade with Mariners would rectify huge mistake from 2014

After the SF Giants missed out on ace starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, who ended up signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks, their options are limited. Perhaps the team could try to swing a trade with the Seattle Mariners to rectify an old mistake.

The year was 2014. The Giants were fresh off their third World Series title in five years, but their beloved third baseman Pablo Sandoval had departed in free agency to the Boston Red Sox. In need of a third baseman, the Giants decided to trade two prospects, pitchers Luis Castillo and Kendry Flores, in exchange for third baseman Casey McGehee.

The trade turned out to be a disaster.

Proposed SF Giants trade would reunite team with Luis Castillo

McGehee flamed out with the Giants and was designated for assignment twice in 2015. He finished that season with a slash line of .213/.275/.299 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 49 games with San Francisco. Fan-favorite Matt Duffy ended up being a much better replacement at third.

McGehee's struggles were bad enough, but insult was added to injury when Luis Castillo blossomed into an All-Star pitcher with the Cincinnati Reds. The hard-throwing righty became a very good starter with the Reds, posting a 3.40 ERA in 32 starts in his 2019 All-Star campaign. Grant Brisbee of The Athletic argued in 2019 that the trade was the worst one the Giants had made in decades.

Castillo was an All-Star yet again in 2022, with a 2.99 ERA in 25 starts spending time with both the Reds and the Seattle Mariners. Since then he has continued to be a solid starter in Seattle. Last season he had a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts and 175 and 1/3 innings pitched.

Now, the Giants have a chance to make amends because the Mariners are reportedly looking to trade Castillo. Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors lists the Giants as a potential fit given their need for a starting pitcher. He also notes that the Mariners are looking for infielders which could make first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. an enticing trade chip.

It would probably take more than just Wade to land Castillo. Who knows, maybe they could throw in another mid-level prospect to sweeten the deal who will eventually turn into a good starting pitcher. Bobby Evans is back in the building after all.

Castillo is set to make $24,150,000 next season which is a lot of money. Arguably more money than this skittish ownership group would like to take on. But Castillo would make the rotation stronger and the Giants already have a starter they traded for from the Mariners in the form of Robbie Ray so we have seen this story before.

It would be funny if the Giants got Castillo back after all of these years. His contract has a no-trade clause though, so if he harbors any ill will against San Francisco for getting rid of him a decade ago he can veto the deal.

But if San Francisco can bring him back perhaps it will reverse whatever curse was unleashed when they traded him in 2014 resulting in the team only making the playoffs twice since then.