Reds' trade flop could become another Rays success story

Former Cincinnati Reds prospect Levi Stoudt, who was part of the Luis Castillo trade in 2022, has an opportunity to reinvent himself after agreeing to a minor-league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Reds received what many considered to be a "haul" at the trade deadline in 2022 when they dealt Castillo to the Seattle Mariners. In exchange for their ace, Cincinnati received three of Seattle's top-5 organizationals prospects, and a high-upside pitching prospect who was just getting his feet wet in the minor leagues.

More than four years have passed since the Reds' deadline deal with the Mariners, and neither team can really feel good about the trade. The Mariners squandered multiple opportunities to advance to the World Series despite having one of the best rotations in the game, and none of prospects the Reds received in return have produced much of anything at the big-league level.

Noelvi Marte was the crown jewel of the trade for the Reds, and though he's flashed immense talent, a PED suspension, poor defense, and bad habits have tanked his value. There's still hope that the Reds can salvage Marte's career, but the upcoming season could be a make-or-break year for the former top prospect.

Edwin Arroyo struggled during his first taste of the big leagues last season. He's arguably one of the team's best infield defenders, and with rumors that Cincinnati might be shopping Elly De La Cruz this offseason, Cincinnati should remain patient in hopes that Arroyo will figure things out in the near future.

The two pitching prospects the Reds receiving from the Mariners are no longer with the organization. Andrew Moore has spent his entire career in the minor leagues and made 32 appearances for various San Diego Padres' affiliates in 2026.

Former Reds prospect Levi Stoudt gets a renewed opportunity with the Rays

Stoudt made his big-league debut for the Reds in 2023, but after posting a 9.58 ERA and 2.323 WHIP during his brief time in the majors, Cincinnati DFA'd him and he returned to his old stomping grounds in Seattle.

Stoudt lasted less than year in the Emerald City and was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. He spent a little less than two years with the O's organization and the Philadelphia Phillies picked him up this past February. Stoudt was outstanding for the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, but an injury sidelined him midway through the year, and he elected free agency earlier this month.

Now he'll look to rehab his image once again, and there's no better landing spot than Tampa Bay. The Rays have turned players like Jason Adam and Jeffrey Springs into effective relievers. Tampa Bay also took calculated risks with pitchers like Tyler Glasnow, Drew Rasmussen, and most recently, Freddy Peralta, and helped to transform their careers.

In other words, if you're a broken pitcher, the Rays will fix you. Stoudt could be Tampa Bay's latest reclamation project.

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