Every Day Is Opening Day: Nick Castellanos Has Been Absurd Since the Trade to the Cubs

August 22, 2019, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

It isn’t my intention to droll all over Nick Castellanos every day on here, but every day the dude gives us something praiseworthy.

This time, it’s a 4-4 night, including a first-inning homer to tie the game, an RBI single, and a hustle infield single that preceded Kris Bryant’s clutch homer, and gave us this moment on the bases:

The full run of Castellanos highlights from the night:

Was acquiring Nicholas Castellanos the best trade deadline move?

(MLB x @ATT) pic.twitter.com/7dNxU81xku

— MLB (@MLB) August 22, 2019

As for the question posed by @MLB’s tweet, it’s pretty hard to answer anything but yes right now. Consider what Castellanos has done in his brief time with the Cubs already:

In 100 games with the Tigers, Castellanos hit 11 homers. In 19 games with the Cubs, he’s already hit 8.
With the Tigers, he drove in 37 runs. With the Cubs, he’s already up to 12. (By the way … can someone get on base for this guy?)
The batting lines and wRC+ are obviously ridiculous: Tigers (.273/.328/.462, 105), Cubs (.392/.429/.785, 207).
He totaled 0.8 WAR with the Tigers. He’s already at 1.2 WAR with the Cubs.
His 207 wRC+ since the Trade Deadline is 9th best in baseball … and no one ahead of him has as many as his 84 plate appearances.
In terms of runs created (wRC), Castellanos’ 23 runs created since the deadline is third in baseball, tops in the NL.