5 trades Yankees can make once the lockout ends

Luis Castillo – Starting Pitcher

There are a ton of question marks in the Yankees rotation. Behind Gerritt Cole, the Yankees have Luis Severino, Jordan Montgomery, Jameson Taillon, and Domingo German. Severino was coming off Tommy John surgery last season, and the Yankees severely limited what he could do. Taillon tore a tendon in his ankle and had to get surgery. He might miss the beginning of the season. German was a liability last season, and he’s coming off a domestic violence suspension.

This is obviously not ideal for the Yankees. They need more legit options at starting pitcher. They could use a prospect like Clarke Schmidt or Deivi Garcia in the rotation, but that’s still a risk. It’s more likely the Yankees make a move for a starting pitcher.

Luis Castillo is one of the best options on the trade market. The Cincinnati Reds are rumored to be rebuilding, much to the chagrin of Joey Votto. Castillo’s counting stats aren’t great from last season. He led the league in losses with 16 despite the team finishing over .500.

However, Castillo had a rough start, but stormed back in the second half. He had a 2.73 ERA after May. The Reds relied on him to keep them in games. The Yankees have been a rumored destination for Castillo before, but this time it seems like it’s far more likely.

The Yankees really need another option to start. Castillo makes a lot of sense, and the Reds are willing to move him for the right price.