White Sox’s Chris Getz goes aggressive at trade deadline, lands Luis Castillo to protect AL Central lead

CHICAGO — Two years after setting a modern record for losses, the White Sox are in first place in the AL Central, and general manager Chris Getz is treating the trade deadline as a chance to build, not a reason to hesitate.

Getz swung a deal Saturday for Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo, a three-time All-Star, according to The Athletic. The move came with the White Sox (58-52) holding a three-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians (56-56) heading into Sunday’s games.

“We’re a day away from the trade deadline,” Getz said on a video conference call with reporters Sunday, “and we’ve got an opportunity to continue to build out this roster to give us a greater chance of making the playoffs and still set us up for future success.”

Why the White Sox needed another starter

The trade addresses a specific weakness: innings. Chicago ranked last among AL teams in starting pitching innings with 479 2/3 going into Sunday, The Athletic reported.

Castillo has thrown 99 2/3 innings this season, which would rank only fifth on the White Sox. But the team’s top two starters, Sean Burke and Davis Martin, are in just their second seasons as full-time rotation members.

“We’re going towards uncharted territory for a lot of these young arms,” Getz said. “And to be able to provide Luis Castillo’s innings and ability into our group, that’s why our probability took such a large jump, in addition to our 2027 playoff probability.”

What Castillo brings — and the risks

Castillo’s season numbers are not pretty. He has a 5.06 ERA and a 1.395 WHIP. In his last three starts, he has given up seven home runs. His strikeout percentage is down to 19.4 percent, which would mark the first time in his career it has dipped below 20.

There are reasons for optimism. From late May through July 21, his ERA was under 4.00, and his average fastball remains around 95 mph. At 33, he still profiles as a durable workhorse.

Getz said the character reports he received on Castillo were “about as glowing as I’ve heard about any player,” and he pointed to director of pitching Brian Bannister and pitching coach Zach Bove’s work with recent additions like Jordan Hicks as a reason the team could refine Castillo’s arsenal.

The cost of the deal

To offset Castillo’s salary and part with a disappointing player, the Sox sent deposed closer Seranthony Domínguez and prospects Boston Smith and Nolan Jones to Seattle, according to The Athletic. Domínguez had signed a two-year, $20 million deal before the season.

Castillo is making $22.75 million this season and in 2027, with a vesting option for $25 million in 2028. The White Sox carry one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.

The impact on playoff odds

FanGraphs’ projection system moved the White Sox’s division odds from 35.8 percent to 39.5 percent after the Castillo deal and another Guardians loss, per Getz.

“The fun part about this part of the season when you’re looking at acquisitions, you can plug it into a projection system and playoff probabilities,” Getz said. “And as you’re inputting different possibilities and potential acquisitions out there and understanding what the acquisition cost is going to be, (the Sox’s odds) took a meaningful jump.”

The franchise is also seeing momentum off the field. Attendance is picking up, and viewership on the team’s RSN — co-owned with the Blackhawks and Bulls — is rising, The Athletic reported.

What remains unclear

The trade deadline is Monday, and Getz said he still plans to add more pitching. Another need is catcher, after Kyle Teel was injured again.

“I anticipate we do something,” Getz said of the catcher spot. “I just don’t know when and who’s going to be coming our way.”

Getz said he would not trade a top-100 prospect for a rental but would consider it for a player with control. Which names are in play, and whether a catcher deal materializes, remains uncertain.

From 121 losses to a first-place push

Getz’s first full season as general manager was 2024, when the White Sox lost a modern-record 121 games. The next winter, he traded Garrett Crochet for a package of prospects.

Now he is adding pitching to hold the top spot in the AL Central and a potential bye out of the Wild Card round.

“It has been a long road to get where we are right now,” Getz said. “I don’t take any of this for granted. You can’t assume that you’re going to be in these positions every year.”

Key facts at a glance

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7487143/2026/08/02/white-sox-chris-getz-luis-castillo-trade/