When the Cincinnati Reds traded Luis Castillo to Seattle for the Mariners’ Nos. 1, 2, 10 and 26 prospects (per Baseball America) on Friday, the price of top-tier starting pitching — and even mid-tier arms — on the trading block figured to be exorbitant thereafter.
That’s why it came as somewhat of a surprise when the New York Yankees’ return to the Oakland Athletics for Frankie Montas on Monday was … not.
Granted, Castillo is arguably a notch above Montas in terms of talent, the latter has been dealing with shoulder issues this season and both have the same amount of club control remaining (through 2023).