Reds Emerge as Frontrunner for Castellanos
After an offseason which has been mostly slow for rightfielder Nicholas Castellanos, the Cincinnati Reds have emerged as frontrunners for his services. A source has explained that the Reds and his people have made progress on a potential deal. The San Francisco Giants have also had recent conversations with Scott Boras, Castellanos’ agent, and there have been repeated talks between him and the Chicago Cubs.
Castellanos had a disappointing start to his 2019 season. Hitting .273/.328/.462 for the Detroit Tigers. Then he was traded to the Cubs at the July deadline and he bounced back in a huge way, slashing .321/.356/.646 with 16 homers in 51 games. That performance has likely added some more crooked numbers in his next deal. In October, Roster Resource estimated that he would be in-line for a four-year $64 million contract. One would expect Boras, his agent, would be pushing his two-month performance with the Cubs as what to expect in the future, and guys with a 1.000 OPS typically carry $25 million AAV’s or more.
It does appear that his days with the Cubs are over. With the Kris Bryant grievance still ongoing, and no real guess to when it will be figured out, the team already over the luxury tax, and a potential signing of Steven Souza Jr., there isn’t money or a roster spot for him any longer. Unless there’s a trade of either Kyle Schwarber or Jason Heyward, the Cubs have a loaded outfield as it is.
