Mariners and Castillo agree five-year, $108 million extension – TSN.ca

SEATTLE (AP) – Right-hander Luis Castillo agreed to a five-year, $108 million deal with the Seattle Mariners beginning next season, giving up the chance to become a free agent after the 2023 World Series.

The deal announced on Saturday includes an option for 2028 that could take the six-season deal to $133 million.

“I’m very happy, very happy to be here,” Castillo said through an interpreter. “I thank God for allowing me to be here much more. Hopefully I’ll be here for another five or six years.”

Castillo was the big takeover for the Mariners when they brought him out of Cincinnati. The hope was that Castillo would make the difference in Seattle’s push to end baseball’s longest playoff drought and that the Mariners could convince him to stay longer.

“Luis has been one of the best pitchers in MLB for the past six seasons,” said Jerry Dipoto, Mariners president of baseball operations. “He’s a dynamic power pitcher in the prime of his career with a consistent track record. Bringing him to Seattle was a pivotal moment in our ongoing effort to build a championship roster. Similarly, this deal illustrates our continued commitment to the present and future of this team.”

Castillo is 7-6 with a 2.85 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 23 starts between Seattle and Cincinnati. Since joining the Mariners, he is 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 64 strikeouts in nine starts.

Castillo, 29, was selected to the National League All-Star team in July for his second All-Star appearance.

Castillo is on a salary of $7.35 million this season, and his new contract includes a $7 million signing bonus, payable within 60 days of the contract being approved by the Office of the Commissioner. He will receive salaries of $10 million in 2023 and $22.75 million annually from 2024-27.

Seattle has protection from an UCL injury in his pitching arm, a $5 million conditional option for 2028 that can only be exercised if he stays 27-plus days from 2025 for more than 130 consecutive days due to surgery by Tommy John or another on the injured list is pending surgery for a ligament injury.

If conditional option specifications are not met, the contract includes a $25 million option for 2028, guaranteed if Castillo plays at least 180 innings in 2027 and an independent physician determines he has no injury that would cause him to do so , to start in 2028 on the injured list.

Castillo cannot be traded without his approval from 2023 to 2025 and would receive a $1 million attribution bonus if traded after that

He received a bonus of $500,000 for winning a Cy Young Award and $250,000 for second through fifth places, $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP, $100,000 for Rivera/Hoffman Reliever of the Year, $50,000 for a Gold Glove or All-Star selection and $25,000 for All-Star selection.

“I guarantee there’s no one happier than me signing such a high-profile starter,” said Seattle manager Scott Servais. “He is a great addition to our team and fits perfectly into our clubhouse. He was great on the field.”

Keeping Castillo creates an impressive rotation for Seattle going forward. Robbie Ray was Seattle’s big signing of last offseason, and the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was signed to a five-year, $115 million deal. Young right-handers Logan Gilbert and George Kirby have shown dominance this season. Gilbert is under club control until 2027 and Kirby until 2029.

“I am very happy with this rotation. Thank God we’re all healthy and doing a good job,” Castillo said. “Hopefully we can keep working and see how far we can go over the next few years.”

Castillo is the second big deal for the Mariners in the past month, after they signed rookie hitter Julio Rodríguez to a 12-year, $209.3 million contract last month.

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AP freelance writer Marc Bowman, based in Kansas City, contributed to this report.

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