EMERGENCY POD: White Sox Acquire Luis Castillo for Seranthony Dominguez & Prospects | CHGO White Sox

**Sean Anderson** (0:07)
Ayo, welcome in to CHGO White Sox Podcast, an emergency podcast presented by Xfinity. Imagine that. Welcome in. I am your host, Sean Anderson. I will soon be joined by Herb Lawrence, currently joined by my producer, Stephen Nicholas, Mr. Everything here at CHGO. We are here because the White Sox have acquired Luis Castillo from the Seattle Mariners in a trade. They give up Nolan Jones, they give up Seranthony Dominguez, and they give up Boston Smith. We are not fully sure about the full money details just yet, but because no details have leaked out, Stephen, it does feel like Seattle is going to take on all of Seranthony Dominguez contract, and the White Sox will take on all of Castillo's contract. Eldon Gonzalez actually does say the White Sox will have all the remaining money on Castillo's contract in the trade. So the proration of the 22.75 this year and the 22.75 next year, Castillo's deal also has a $25 million besting option for 2025, for 2028, I'm sorry, if he reaches 180 innings pitched. Stephen, this came at the worst timing. I'm very pissed off to be doing this.
I like Luis Castillo, always have. 2023, August 21st, he throws 47 straight fastballs against our White Sox and just dominates against us. So this is a guy that's done it before.
There's some things that concern me, but it's a move and beggars can't be choosers.

**Stephen Nicholas** (1:35)
Hey, and a three-time All-Star added to the White Sox rotation. I really think this race is not just the floor, but also the ceiling for the White Sox. And I know the numbers might not look that great this year, but we've seen what he could do when he's at the top of his game. Some of that might be just the fact that the Mayors have been sub-par with what the expectations are this season. But when I look at the return for what the White Sox actually gave away, I thought they got to steal here. I'm pretty happy with this.

**Sean Anderson** (2:00)
Yeah, I'm not against it. So let me just be clear, OK?
The actual return is Seranthony Dominguez, somebody that most people hated. The Discord is cheering that he's done. Steven hates everyone in the bullpen. If you give up a run, if you're not perfect, Steven hates you.

**Stephen Nicholas** (2:18)
Mostly, I just think it's funny. We just had this talk on the last show I was on with you where I said, if he comes into a playoff game, how do you feel? Like your stomach's a little queasy, watch Seranthony Dominguez. Now he's gone. Now you don't have to have that queasy feeling.

**Sean Anderson** (2:31)
One-nothing game today comes in versus the top. I think he faced Caminero. What happened?

**Stephen Nicholas** (2:36)
Scoreless and a great ending.

**Sean Anderson** (2:39)
And Steven, how many of his last 10 were scoreless?

**Stephen Nicholas** (2:43)
I'm going six.

**Sean Anderson** (2:46)
Nine.

**Stephen Nicholas** (2:47)
Or was it really nine? Wow.

**Sean Anderson** (2:49)
Yeah. I don't know if like I'm like, woohoo, they traded away Seranthony Dominguez. They needed a starter. They got a starter. So let's talk about Luis Castillo, the starter, because again, beggars can't be choosers. They traded away Castillo who they spent money on. They are pretty much spending money on this because it's about a $15 million difference all around. Seranthony Dominguez next year is going to be 10 million plus a $2 million buyout. It's at $22 million for Castillo as Alden Gonzalez said. So there's about a $10 million difference next year. And there's about a $5 million difference this year. It is obviously possible that Castillo's vesting or option for 2028 vests in 2027 if he pitches 108 innings as he has before. The one thing that stuck out to me really started off poorly to the year. When you look at the 506 ERA, you're probably going to shriek and be like, what are the White Sox doing?
One thing to note, 20 games started or 20 games played, 17 games started in the beginning of the year. Him and Bryce Miller were like starting, opening, kind of flip flopping, snip, snap, snip, snap between starting and being an opener. And it didn't feel like he got true consistency in that role. Seattle is trading him mostly because they want to open up a roster spot for Kate Anderson, the former top prospect for LSU. But Castillo, since June, when he's been above 95 miles per hour, a 447 ERA, so down from that 506 on the season total and a 506 FIP. So at least is telling you that it's where his ERA on the season is at.