From MLB.com today, under the heading of biggest surprises:

2. The White Sox swap for Luis Castillo

With six healthy starters and top pitching prospect Kade Anderson waiting in the wings, the Mariners were prime candidates to trade a starter. Surprisingly, they moved Luis Castillo, who was having a career-worst year with a 5.06 ERA and 78 ERA+, without having to eat a single cent of his contract ($24.2 million salary through next season, plus a $25 million vesting option for 2028).

Chicago offset some costs by sending back reliever Seranthony Domínguez ($10 million owed next year), but the White Sox are still taking on a massive financial risk. They gain a proven veteran leader, but one who hasn't pitched significantly above league average in years.

1 minute ago, Lip Man 1 said:

From MLB.com today, under the heading of biggest surprises:

2. The White Sox swap for Luis Castillo

With six healthy starters and top pitching prospect Kade Anderson waiting in the wings, the Mariners were prime candidates to trade a starter. Surprisingly, they moved Luis Castillo, who was having a career-worst year with a 5.06 ERA and 78 ERA+, without having to eat a single cent of his contract ($24.2 million salary through next season, plus a $25 million vesting option for 2028).

Chicago offset some costs by sending back reliever Seranthony Domínguez ($10 million owed next year), but the White Sox are still taking on a massive financial risk. They gain a proven veteran leader, but one who hasn't pitched significantly above league average in years.

I just don't think its that big of a financial risk. The Sox added $13.5M to their payroll (in both 26 & 27 combined) with the Castillo trade. That is literal mice nuts in the MLB terms.

56 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said:

I just don't think its that big of a financial risk. The Sox added $13.5M to their payroll (in both 26 & 27 combined) with the Castillo trade. That is literal mice nuts in the MLB terms.

I wonder what this brings the 2027 opening day payroll up to now.

36 minutes ago, JoeC said:

I wonder what this brings the 2027 opening day payroll up to now.

According to Spotrac it's $78,250,000 for just 6 guys though but they're not counting Brozaban, Doyle and Bart. Hays has an $8 mutual option so likely minus that . So it's likely with who's here at the end of the season and a lot of guys pre Arb , might be looking at close to $100M.

The 6 players are

Castillo

Murakami

Benintendi

Hicks

Hays

Kay

1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said:

From MLB.com today, under the heading of biggest surprises:

2. The White Sox swap for Luis Castillo

With six healthy starters and top pitching prospect Kade Anderson waiting in the wings, the Mariners were prime candidates to trade a starter. Surprisingly, they moved Luis Castillo, who was having a career-worst year with a 5.06 ERA and 78 ERA+, without having to eat a single cent of his contract ($24.2 million salary through next season, plus a $25 million vesting option for 2028).

Chicago offset some costs by sending back reliever Seranthony Domínguez ($10 million owed next year), but the White Sox are still taking on a massive financial risk. They gain a proven veteran leader, but one who hasn't pitched significantly above league average in years.

Massive financial risk? GTFO. You're adding 26 million or so over two years. There isn't a chance his vesting option hits and in the world where he pitches 180+ innings it probably would be a tradeable deal.

For all we know the salary floor will be implemented and we need to add another 50 million for 2027.

2 minutes ago, ron883 said:

Its a fair comment, but also kind of stupid. Not many people have seen Mason Adams pitch or Boston Smith play a game. Just because James (or anyone, really) maybe has a couple times doesn't make their opinion all that much more valuable. Ultimately, no one knows these guys better than the Sox, so I am good with moving them.

I have never seen Bonemer play. I guess if the Sox traded him for a questionable player, I wouldn't be able to complain. I like James, but his argument makes no sense.

Rough Mariners debut for Seranthony vs. Detroit

Walk (to Baez!), single, RBI groundout, 3 run HR, solo shot, single, walk.

0.1 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 4 ER, 2 BB.

13 hours ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Rough Mariners debut for Seranthony vs. Detroit

Walk (to Baez!), single, RBI groundout, 3 run HR, solo shot, single, walk.

0.1 IP, 4 H (2 HR), 4 ER, 2 BB.

OUCH! Guess he wasn’t “fixed” 😆 Will have to look up and see what kind of situation they used him in.

Edit: Wasn’t even a leverage situation 😆

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by hi8is

Journalism is dead for not praising this trade

1 hour ago, ron883 said:

Journalism is dead for not praising this trade

Jimmy unironically doing the "Keith Law hates the White Sox"

Well Castillo has it within his power to shut up all the critics.

We'll see what happens.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Lip Man 1

15 minutes ago, ron883 said:

Jimmy unironically doing the "Keith Law hates the White Sox"

Keith Law hates the White Sox being penny wise, pound foolish.

On 8/5/2026 at 3:32 AM, Dick Allen said:

I have never seen Bonemer play. I guess if the Sox traded him for a questionable player, I wouldn't be able to complain. I like James, but his argument makes no sense.

Unless you’re a professional, paid scout, these opinions are basically meaningless.

Not even Keith Law is watching 7-10 consecutive games of a player.

They’re snapshots.

98% chance Adam’s doesn’t have the stuff for the majors, and Boston Smith doesn’t become a frontline catcher, but they’re still assets that were essentially wasted…when they already had Hill Pereira Hays and Acuna.

Getting too cute with the roster.

How much would Castillo get this off-season on the open market?

Probably around $6-8 million, a one year deal with an option for 2028 based on innings/performance, probably.

White Sox outbid the entire market by a long shot…just like Tigers panicked not holding onto Skubal and getting more from the Brewers.

Basically all paid baseball writers go with what team scouts and industry insiders say about prospects…just don’t have the time/resources/ROI for it to be worthwhile traveling to follow players, even Roch or Lackey.

Jeff Teague had a long NBA career and gave up scouting for ATL after paying to upgrade lousy hotel rooms, lol. there’s just no money in it, especially with AI standardizing things and all the investment going into SEC and ACC budgets/coaching staffs.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by caulfield12