Mariners add Nolan Jones in four-player deal

In exchange for Castillo, the Mariners will acquire right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez, outfielder Nolan Jones, and catcher/outfield prospect Boston Smith. The Whit Sox will also take on all of Castillo’s contract, which pays him 22.75 million the next two years with an option for 2028. The Mariners have long been rumored to explore trading a starting pitcher with Emerson Hancock and George Kirby’s name bandied about, but it’s Castillo who will be heading to Chicago. The right-hander is not the same hurler he was a few years ago when he was among the very best in the sport, but he’s a solid mid-rotation option for a team that has played well above expectations with an excellent chance of reaching October. He’s more streamer than fantasy stalwart, but perhaps the change of scenery helps Castillo find the form of the previous campaigns.

The Guardians will receive $250,000 in international bonus pool money from the Guardians. Jones, 28, has spent the entire season at Triple-A Columbus where he has slashed a healthy .275/.385/.460 with eight homers, 31 RBI and three stolen bases in 226 plate appearances. It may not take long for the former top prospect to get an opportunity with the White Sox.

Both the single and homer left the bat at 106 mph, with the homer traveling 401 feet. Jones cleared waivers at the end of the spring after failing to make the Guardians, but this probably isn’t the end for him. The Guardians are going to be searching for offense all year, and while Jones is no certainty to provide it, he has more upside than a good two-thirds of the players on their roster.

Jones was out of minor league options and has the right to refuse the outright assignment and hit the open market if he chooses to do so. The 27-year-old former top prospect hit a putrid .152 (5-for-33) with one homer, six RBI, one stolen base and a 14/3 K/BB ratio during Cactus League play.

Both of Jones’s balls in play were hit hard, but they went for outs anyway, which is the story of his spring so far; he’s 4-for-32 even though 12 of his 18 balls in play have been hard hit. Of course, it’s not helping that he’s also struck out 14 times. Jones seems unlikely to make the Guardians, even though he’s out of options. A rebuilding team might gamble on him, but it seems more likely that he’d clear waivers and report to Triple-A.

It’s the first spring roundtripper for Jones. The 27-year-old outfielder was atrocious in 2025 with a .211/.296/.304 slash with five homers, but he’s not long removed from being one of the more intriguing outfielders in baseball. Still, fantasy managers would be right to take a wait-and-see approach in this situation.

Fry underwent surgery to repair a deviated septum and fractured nose and missed the postseason after being hit in the face by a fastball from Tarik Skubal. Jones will likely be a platoon outfielder for Cleveland in 2026, while Festa should again work in the middle innings.

It’s likely a season-ending injury for Jones, even if Cleveland winds up making the postseason. The 27-year-old corner outfielder has batted just .211/.296/.304 with five homers and eight steals in 136 games.

Jones’ home run was just his fifth of the year. While the 27-year-old outfielder has been a bust this year, he displayed all the skills that made him an interesting fantasy entity before the season on Friday. Jones hit a solo home run off tiring starter George Kirby in the seventh inning and lead-off the ninth inning with a double as the tying-run. Jones is hitting .219 with a .632 OPS and 31 RBI on the season.

Kyle Manzardo had the game-ending hit off Griffin Jax after the Rays failed to score in their half of the 10th. Jones already had a single on the day before his 428-foot blast. It was just his second start in seven games, but he might have a bigger role going forward with the Guardians seemingly partly or fully moving on from Carlos Santana. Jones is batting just .215/.309/.305 in 344 plate appearances, but Statcast thinks he’s been pretty unlucky. Today’s homer was only his fifth, even though he has 18 barrels. His hard-hit rate sits at 47%, and his 26.7% strikeout rate, while not great, is considerably better than his career mark of 30.4%.