SEATTLE — On a night the Mariners flailed in vain against Justin Verlander, they took a huge swing ... and connected.
It was midway through another disheartening loss to Houston on Friday when news filtered out: The Mariners had finalized a deal for Cincinnati's Luis Castillo, widely considered to be the best pitcher available on the market, as Tuesday's MLB trade deadline approaches.
It's just the sort of bold play the Mariners needed to make to end their playoff drought — and set themselves up to make a deep run if they finally, really and truly, get there.
