The New York Mets may be offseason winners so far, but they lost out on a potential key addition on Wednesday.
Garrett Crochet, the former Chicago White Sox ace who was the most coveted prize on this winter’s trade market, was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for a package of four top prospects. Crochet was a name on top of the Mets’ wish list, but Boston carried the day.
Under president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Mets have thus far been reticent to hand out long-term starting pitcher contracts, and that trend has held in this free-agent window. Obviously, the team’s focus was on Juan Soto, but since signing the superstar outfielder, they’ve yet to make a splashy starting pitching addition.
According to MLB.com reporter Anthony DiComo, Stearns and the Mets had been in contact with the White Sox about a Crochet trade right up until Chicago finalized the Red Sox deal. Now, they’ll have to pivot to another target.
Zachary Rotman of FanSided recently urged the Mets to pursue another trade. Rotman named Seattle Mariners star Luis Castillo as one of the top three targets for New York to consider in the wake of the Crochet trade.
“Castillo might not have Crochet’s upside, but he’s as reliable of an arm as there is. He has made 25 or more starts and thrown at least 150 innings in each of the last six full seasons (excluding 2020) with ERAs below 4.00 in five of those six seasons,” Rotman said.
“With the Seattle Mariners reportedly willing to listen to offers for Castillo, the Mets should be all in. If they’re willing to take on the remainder of the money on his contract, he might not even cost as much as he should in terms of a return.”
Castillo, 31, has three years remaining on the $108 million contract extension he signed with Seattle before the 2023 season. He pitched to a 3.64 ERA in 30 starts last season, striking out 175 batters in 175 1/3 innings.
If the Mariners’ reported willingness to move Castillo is genuine, then Stearns should be in constant contact with Seattle’s front office to make such a deal come to fruition. The Mets are only another pitcher or two away from being a serious World Series threat in 2025.
