Rumored Cubs target Luis Castillo landed with White Sox but Mariners trade fit remains

Former Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo had been an oft-rumored trade target for the Chicago Cubs over the past year, but it was the Chicago White Sox who stepped in and made deal to ignite their trade deadline activity.

Like the Cubs, the White Sox were seeking an upgrade to their rotation and found one in Castillo. The White Sox will be absorbing all of the money remaining on Castillo's contract, pro-rated portion of $22.75 million this year and $22.75 million next year. Lining up the money involved in the deal, the White Sox sent veteran relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez to the Mariners, and also parted with outfielder Nolan Jones and slugging prospect Boston Smith.

Between the money remaining on his contract and the fact he has an ERA this year of 5.06, Castillo likely wasn't top of mind for the Cubs before the deadline. That said, the impression is that the Cubs are among the teams with interest in Castillo's former teammates, Emerson Hancock and George Kirby.

Given that past reporting has suggested that the Mariners were only looking to trade one starting pitcher, the deal with the White Sox gave off the impression that Hancock and Kirby may no longer be available. That might not be the case.

Cubs still have a path to a trade deadline deal with the Mariners

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mariners are still open to the idea of moving Kirby before Monday's deadline. There wasn't a direct reference to Hancock's status after Castillos' trade but if the Mariners are still listening on Kirby, they likely are on the 27-year-old.

Rosenthal does add that the Mariners would seek pitching in a potential trade of Kirby. Assuming it's a given that one of Pedro Ramirez or Matt Shaw would also be in a potential offer from the Cubs, moving Jaxon Wiggins in this type of trade feels like something the front office would do. Especially since they took 16 pitchers in the draft last month.

Now that Skubal has been traded to the Dodgers, and Castillo to the White Sox, the floodgates should open on Sunday and into Monday. The Cubs are expected to busy, hoping to add three pitchers when all is said and done. Jose Soriano and Reid Detmers are the controllable pitchers that come to mind, but their is a laundry list of rental starting pitchers the Cubs could make a move for, including Robbie Ray, Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, and Kevin Gausman.

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