Luis Castillo Reportedly Made 'Off Limits' by Mariners in MLB Trade Talks

The Mariners have reportedly made pitcher Luis Castillo "off limits" in trade talks.

"One club who offered a young infielder for veteran starter Luis Castillo, was told that Castillo remains off-limits - at least for now," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported.

The Mariners are dealing with injuries in their lineup, with Victor Robles and Ryan Bliss sidelined for "at least three to four months," per Nightengale.

Castillo has started in three games this season for Seattle posting a 1.12 WHIP and 2.12 ERA with 15 strikeouts.

The 32-year-old is under a five-year, $108 million contract with the Mariners who are off to a 7-8 start to its season.

The three-time All-Star's starting position was questioned leading up to Opening Day, with 27-year-old Logan Gilbert dominating on the mound, leading other teams to believe the All-Star has "taken a little bit of a step back."

​"Logan ​Gilbert ​was ​so ​good ​last ​year. ​And ​Luis Castillo, ​while ​he ​has ​an ​amazing ​history ​and ​he's ​very ​respected ​as ​a ​starter ​throughout ​the ​industry, ​the ​fact ​is ​that ​Logan ​Gilbert ​was ​significantly ​better ​than ​Luis ​Castillo ​was ​last ​year," ESPN's Buster Olney said on the Refuse to Lose podcast. "​And ​that ​reality ​was ​reinforced ​during ​the ​wintertime ​when ​I ​know ​that ​the ​Mariners ​were ​sort ​of ​willing ​to ​listen ​to ​offers ​for ​Castillo, ​the ​feedback ​I ​got ​from ​a ​lot ​of ​teams ​was, ​'Yeah, ​he's ​taken ​a ​little ​bit ​of ​a ​step ​back ​in ​terms ​of ​what ​his ​performance ​is,' ​and ​maybe ​that ​reflects ​the ​thinking ​of ​Dan ​Wilson ​and ​the ​front ​office ​in ​making ​this ​choice."

In 2024, Castillo started 30 games for the Mariners, posting a 1.17 WHIP, a 3.64 ERA and 174 strikeouts.

Despite lingering questions about Castillo's productivity, the Mariners are keeping their cards close regarding the right-hander for the time being.