Position: RF/DH
Bats/Throws: R/R
Age: 3/4/1992 (29)
Traditional Stats: 138 G, .309/.362/.576, 38 2B, 34 HR, 100 RBI
Advanced Stats: 3.2 WAR, 41.9 HardHit%, 22.9 K%, -6 OAA
Rundown
Heading into the 2010 MLB Draft, Nick Castellanos was ranked as one of the top overall prospects. He ended up being selected by the Detroit Tigers with the fourteenth pick out of Archbishop McCarthy High School in Florida.
Castellanos began his first season in the organization ranked as the 65th overall prospect in baseball. He continued to rise in the rankings as he carried over his success to the minor leagues.
He quickly became one of the top youngsters in the organization and climbed his way up into MLB’s top-50 prospects list. Castellanos was finally called up to the big leagues to make his debut towards the end of the 2013 season.
He appeared in just eleven games, but hit .278 and struck out just one time. The then 22-year old became a mainstay in the middle of the Tigers lineup. Castellanos finished eighth in Rookie of the Year voting his first full season in the big leagues.
In his second year, he appeared in 154 games and posted a .721 OPS with 33 doubles and 15 homers. Castellanos finally began to settle in and came into his own at the plate his third full season in the show.
During the 2017 season, he appeared in a career-high 157 games. Castellanos posted a 112 OPS+, .811 OPS, .320 OBP, and drove in a career-high 101 runs. He also had 36 doubles, 26 home runs, and led the league with ten triples.
He followed that up with another career year with the Tigers. The slugger ripped 46 doubles, 23 homers, and had 89 RBI. He struck out a career-high 151 times, but also hit .298 and posted a 128 OPS+ and .854 OPS.
With the Tigers again spiraling in the wrong direction, Castellanos was traded to the Chicago Cubs at the 2019 trading deadline. He put up MVP-esque numbers in a Cubbies uniform and finished the year with a .863 OPS, 27 home runs, and a career-high 58 doubles.
Entering free agency for the first time in his career, Castellanos signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He struggled during the 2020 pandemic shortened season, hitting just .225 over the 60 games.
Castellanos proved that was a fluke, bouncing back in a huge way this past season. He made his first career All-Star team, finished 12th in NL MVP voting, and took home his first career Silver Slugger award.
Castellanos recorded a 3.2 WAR, 136 OPS+, and a career-high .939 OPS. He also scored 95 runs, 38 doubles, 100 RBI, .362 OBP, and finished seventh in the National League with 34 home runs.
Offensively, Castellanos has turned himself into one of the premier bats in the game today. He is a legit middle-of-the-order power threat and just seems to be getting better.
Defensively, on the other hand, Castellanos has struggled for the most part. He made the majority of his appearances in right field last season and recorded an ugly -6 OAA (sixth percentile).
The slugger seems to be best suited to sign with a team where he can sit back and mash as the designated hitter. Castellanos figures to have plenty of suitors lining up as soon as the lockout is lifted.
Contract
As I mentioned above, Castellanos signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Reds during the 2020 offseason. He played out the first two seasons of his contract but decided to opt-out of the final two years, $36 million on his deal after a monster 2021 season.
Castellanos is easily one of, if not, the top free agents remaining on the open market today. There absolutely will be plenty of teams lining up to sign the 29-year old slugger as soon as the lockout is lifted.
MLB Trade Rumors projected earlier this offseason that Castellanos will receive a five-year, $115 million contract. It was reported a few weeks later that the slugger was seeking a six or seven-year deal.
It’s important to remember that Castellanos has draft pick compensation tied to him after the Reds extended him the qualifying offer. Some teams that were showing interest prior to the lockout include the Marlins, Phillies, and White Sox amongst others.
Recommendation
Castellanos would certainly be an intriguing way for the Mets to solidify their offense this offseason. Adding his big bat around Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Eduardo Escobar could add some serious thump to the mix.
Castellanos plays with the energy and has the personality to thrive in New York. He is coming off a breakout MVP-esque campaign with the Reds. The sky is the limit for the 29-year old slugger who only seems to be getting better.
With the DH more than likely coming to the National League, Castellanos could potentially be a fit for the Mets. He’d put this lineup over the top and make this team a legitimate contender this year.
While it is certainly a great idea, I don’t see Castellanos and the Mets as a likely match. One of the biggest reasons, is the Mets seem very reluctant to give up the fourteenth overall pick in this year’s draft to sign anyone.
It also wouldn’t be very smart for the Mets to pay up that big price with their more pressing needs in both the starting rotation and bullpen. I also don’t see them being willing to make that type of long-term commitment.
If they’re still looking to add some thump to the mix, I’d rather see them go after guys who are better fits for this team such as Kris Bryant or Kyle Schwarber.
