The price for Reds starter Luis Castillo just skyrocketed after Frankie Montas' early exit

Luis Castillo had another solid outing for the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The right-hander went seven innings and allowed just one earned run; a solo homer off the bat of Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna.

Castillo's name has been tossed about trade talks since before the 2022 season began. Cincinnati dealt top-notch talent like Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suárez, and Sonny Gray prior to the season, leading most pundits and fans to believe that Castillo will be the next to go.

La Piedra does not become a free agent until after next season and his $7.35M salary for the 2022 season is extremely affordable. While it's not a forgone conclusion that Castillo will be on the move before August 2nd, it's looking more and more likely.

Reds RHP Luis Castillo's price just skyrocketed after Frankie Montas' early exit.

Another pitcher who'll be highly-sought after this month will be Oakland Athletics' right-hander Frankie Montas. Like Luis Castillo, Montas is under team control through the 2023 season and has frontline talent.

However, Montas exited Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners after just one inning of work with what's being called shoulder tightness according MLB.com. While Oakland's manager Mark Kotsay is not worried about it, the A's skipper did say that Montas will undergo a MRI when the team returns home.

If Frankie Montas hits the 15-day IL, all of the sudden Luis Castillo becomes the most coveted pitcher in baseball. The drop-off in talent among "available" starting pitchers is tremendous. Any contending team looking to upgrade their rotation has been eye-balling either Montas or Castillo.

If the A's starter lands on the Injured List, Nick Krall's phone will begin to ring off the hook. If the Cincinnati Reds do indeed intend to trade Luis Castillo, his price will skyrocket after the most recent injury news surrounding Frankie Montas. The Reds cannot afford to screw this up.