With Marcell Ozuna off the market joining the Braves, we know that Nick Castellanos’ market could move very soon. And since Ozuna could secure only one year and $18 million (albeit with draft pick comp attached), you have to wonder if Castellanos might have to soon settle for less than expected.
Conventional rumoring had the Rangers and Cardinals in on Castellanos (and previously the Giants and Marlins, too), with the Cubs lying in wait if they could move money and players. But there’s another team to add to the mix:
Reds, who have already had a big winter, remain a player for Nick Castellanos. Rangers among others in.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 23, 2020
Legit interest, or just turning the screws a bit on the Cubs and Cardinals?
Presently, the Reds are overloaded in the outfield with could-be-should-be-might-be starters: Shogo Akiyama, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker, Aristides Aquino, and Phil Ervin. But it wouldn’t be that crazy to add an everyday bat like Castellanos, and then coordinate the younger guys as necessary (or even make a trade). The Reds are clearly pushing right now, so if Castellanos’s market has cratered like Ozuna’s, why wouldn’t they consider trying to get him on a short-term, low-dollar deal? Maybe he bites?
All that said, as with the Cardinals, if Castellanos winds up with another NL Central team for a song, I’m going to be inconsolably bitter that the Cubs couldn’t find a way to make it work. Look, I get that the Kris Bryant service time grievance has taken waaay longer than anyone expected, and I get that moving him makes the most sense if you’re trying to unload salary while simultaneously adding long-term talent. But still, to have pinned yourself in a corner like this, such that you can’t seriously make a play for an extremely desirable bat like Castellanos (who wants to return!) is maddening.
We’ll see what happens before freaking, of course, but with Ozuna signing, I’m a little more keyed up for Castellanos rumors.