On June 27, 2022 — exactly one year ago Tuesday — the Mariners jumped the trade market by acquiring veteran first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana from the Royals for two minor-league pitchers.
Just about a month later, on July 30, the Mariners made their big move, getting All-Star pitcher Luis Castillo from the Reds for four highly touted minor-leaguers.
Those bookended transactions played vital roles in the Mariners’ surge to a wild-card playoff berth. Seven games under .500 at the time, the Mariners were 17-1 in Santana’s first 18 games, in which he showed the team how to dance after wins. Beginning with Castillo’s first Mariners start Aug. 3, a dominant outing in a victory over the Yankees, Seattle was 33-23 down the stretch to lock down the long-elusive postseason spot.
