Nick Castellanos

Does the Philadelphia Phillies signing of Nick Castellanos mean even more help is on the way for the 2022 MLB season?

Philadelphia will want to round out its roster, one that is still behind the New York Mets and even the Atlanta Braves on paper. Now, perhaps the largest ripple this signing has is the potential to add even more players. José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians could potentially be pried away to play third base. Couple that with defensive issues with Bohm at third and Gregorius' recent struggles, and things on the defensive side start to look bleak. Following that, the team will then have to decide where it wants to place the rest of its lumber in Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, Jean Segura, and J. T. Realmuto. It is a nice problem to have. The five-year, $100 million deal is worth more than what they had paid to Kyle Schwarber a few days before and the second largest to a Phillies outfielder.

Bryce Harper awakened to the news in his Clearwater Beach condo early Saturday morning and "was blown away." By Jim Salisbury.

"We owe that to our fans, we owe that to the city of Philadelphia and we owe that to our ownership. "We have to go out there and play our game and do the things we can to make sure that we're trying to win games. "I know we're all excited to welcome those guys in here. We owe that to ourselves. "Now we owe that back to them, right?" "Just the length of our lineup is pretty impressive."

Castellanos, 30, is a nine-year major league veteran who previously played for the Tigers, Cubs, and Reds. He posted his best season to date in 2021, where he ...

While it will help a lot, the Phillies also don’t have to heavily rely on bounce backs from both Didi Gregorius and Alec Bohm. The Phillies are doing it. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski drafted Castellanos during his tenure as Tigers president.

Free-agent outfielder Nick Castellanos and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a five-year, $100 million contract, sources familiar with the deal ...

That's the worst figure among all fielders since Castellanos broke into the majors in 2013. Castellanos has primarily played right field since late in the 2017 season after switching away from the hot corner. Castellanos, 30, is coming off his best big league season for Cincinnati, a campaign in which he ranked in the top 10 of the National League in several offensive categories. They also brought back outfielder Odubel Herrera on a one-year contract. Cincinnati then extended Castellanos the qualifying offer of $18.4 million, which he rejected, making him a free agent. Harper said Monday. "He'd be a great middle-of-the-order bat for us."

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryce Harper woke up early Saturday morning to a bunch of text messages and a very pleasant greeting for roommate Bryson Stott.

'What's he about?' Not in a bad way, but like, 'What's he about?' He's definitely one of those guys, and I'm really excited to have him in our clubhouse.” Joe’s going to have a hard time doing it, and that’s a good problem to have. I think that's one of the reasons why I really wanted him here, because he was going to fit that mold, and we needed players like that. It’s going to be a 'pick your poison' type of thing for opposing pitchers.” The thing about Nick is he brings that fire that you need, that passion, that energy. It looks good on paper, but you still have to go out there and give it your best effort. I mean, it’s a special thing to be able to have guys at the top of our lineup and in the middle of our lineup, pretty well-rounded, just the length of our lineup is pretty impressive. But like I said, you have to have the faith in [president of baseball operations Dave] Dombrowski and [principal owner] John Middleton to do their job, to get the team that’s best going out there. 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They know each other well and occasionally communicate in the offseason.\n\nSo perhaps that’s why Harper paused for a moment and chuckled when asked what kind of player Philadelphia is getting in Castellanos.\n\n“I think Nicky's going to fit in with the city of Philadelphia really, really well,” Harper said. ,"type":"markdown","__typename":"Markdown"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4":{"contentDate":"2022-03-19T04:52:10.711Z","description":"Jon Morosi joins MLB Tonight to explain the details of Nick Castellanos' five-year deal with the Phillies","duration":"00:03:11","slug":"mlb-tonight-on-castellanos","source":null,"tags":[{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.0","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.1","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.2","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.3","typename":"Tag"},{"type":"id","generated":true,"id":"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.4","typename":"Tag"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/h86mqxb8j31dis1dnyxj","title":"MLB Tonight on Castellanos deal","type":"video","url":"/video/mlb-tonight-on-castellanos","__typename":"Video"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.0":{"slug":"teamid-143","title":"Philadelphia Phillies","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.1":{"slug":"playerid-592206","title":"Nick Castellanos","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.2":{"slug":"mlb-network","title":"MLB Network","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.3":{"slug":"mlbn-mlb-tonight","title":"MLB Tonight","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.4.tags.4":{"slug":"transactions","title":"transactions","__typename":"Tag"},"$ROOT_QUERY.getForgeContentBySlug({\"locale\":\"en-us\",\"slug\":\"phillies-reaction-to-nick-castellanos-signing\",\"type\":\"story\"}).parts.5":{"content":"“It’s exciting,” Hoskins said. The Phillies and Schwarber agreed on Wednesday to a four-year, $79 million contract. I mean, it’s a special thing to be able to have guys at the top of our lineup and in the middle of our lineup, pretty well-rounded, just the length of our lineup is pretty impressive.

In this case, free-agent slugger Nick Castellanos' mom has Philadelphia Phillies fans in a lather, because she keeps liking tweets that really make it seem like ...

There’s also the issue of money – a self-imposed issue – for the Phillies, who seem set on never exceeding the luxury tax, ever. However, the Phillies’ division-rival Miami Marlins are also reportedly in the mix for Castellanos, and that would be a homecoming for him. Dombrowski also has a long-documented habit of bringing talented players with him as he moves from one organization to the next.

Former Detroit Tigers hitter Nick Castellanos opted out of his contract with the Cincinnati Reds after the 2021 season, determined to test the free-agent ...

Outfielder Nick Castellanos has agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract with the Philadephia Phillies, according to multiple reports.

Back in November, Castellanos opted out of the last two years of his contract with Cincinnati, which would have paid him $34 million. "We definitely need somebody who gives us the best chance to win. They also brought back outfielder Odubel Herrera on a one-year contract. He'd be a great middle-of-the-order bat for us," Harper said. Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski was president and general manager of the Tigers when they drafted Castellanos in 2010 and he debuted with Detroit in 2013. With the Phillies in need of a left fielder, Harper recently pressed the team to bring in a big bat, saying it would be a "downer" if the club did not sign Castellanos, Schwarber or Kris Bryant.

Free agent outfielder Nick Castellanos is "progressing" on a deal with the Phillies, but it's not done yet.

UPDATE (10:40pm CT): The deal is done. The Phillies took his two most reasonable (but more attractive) alternatives off the market, so there probably should be an outfield/DH needy team out there somewhere. Some surprise teams are showing interest in Castellanos. One of those is his old team, the Reds, who seemed to be in steep sell mode. That’s four legit bats, and another (Bohm) with plenty of upside, PLUS J.T. Realmuto, who’s just a consistent offensive performer. This would be a pretty baller move for Philadelphia, and I kinda hope they do it. Credit to @jaysonstfor reporting on the Phillies' "serious pursuit" of Castellanos earlier this morning.

As Stark noted, inking Castellanos would take the Phillies over the luxury tax threshold for the first time in franchise history. Due to that reason, Schwarber ...

The 30-year-old also has a connection to the current Phillies front office. Castellanos, a DH/outfielder type, became an All-Star and Silver Slugger last year with the Reds in his ninth major-league season. As Stark noted, inking Castellanos would take the Phillies over the luxury tax threshold for the first time in franchise history.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Phillies are not finished trying to find more firepower for the offense. Multiple sources told MLB.com on Friday morning that the ...

But the Phillies aren’t going to blow past the luxury tax for Castellanos’ glove. The Phillies would also need to surrender a second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, too, because the Reds made Castellanos a qualifying offer. The Phils and Kyle Schwarber agreed to terms on Wednesday on a four-year, $79 million contract, and one source said afterward that the Phillies were finished with their heavy lifting. Like Schwarber, Castellanos is regarded as a below-average outfielder defensively. The Phils' unexpected push, however, reminds some people of the Tigers’ surprising deal with Prince Fielder in January 2012. He is known to surprise the baseball world with bold, unexpected moves.

Castellanos, 30, was an All-Star and Silver Slugger last season in Cincinnati, where he hit a career-best 34 home runs.

He expected to receive a nine-figure deal in free agency. Sherman said earlier this week he anticipated more additions and Castellanos would give the Marlins a South Florida native to build around. If so, that would put the Phillies well over the newly-established $230 million luxury tax ceiling.

MLB.com's Jon Morosi tweeted last night that the Phils still had some interest in Castellanos even after adding Schwarber. The signing would also assuredly push ...

The 2021 Phillies already ranked last in the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved, and that wasn’t an issue unique to last year’s team. The Phillies have ranked among the worst defensive teams in baseball for more than a half decade now, regularly trotting out subpar defenders and embarking on curious defensive experiments that have not proven fruitful (e.g. Rhys Hoskins in left field). Long a steady and productive hitter with his original organization, the Tigers, Castellanos elevated his game to new heights upon being traded to the Cubs in 2019. Adding Castellanos to a lineup that already includes Schwarber, reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, slugger Rhys Hoskins and the steadily productive Jean Segura would give the Phillies the potential for a dominant lineup — particularly if young talents like Alec Bohm and top prospect Bryson Stott can solidify themselves as big league contributors. Castellanos, 30, became a free agent back in November after he exercised an opt-out clause and walked away from the final two years and $34MM remaining on a four-year, $64MM contract with the Reds. The decision was eminently foreseeable, given the strength of his production in Cincinnati. The Reds made Castellanos a qualifying offer, which he naturally rejected, meaning he’d cost the Phillies their second-highest pick and $500K from their international bonus pool. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets that the Marlins and Reds remain involved, although it’s nearly impossible to imagine Cincinnati re-signing Castellanos after so aggressively shedding payroll to this point.

Earlier this week the Phillies sign Kyle Schwarber, a similar all-bat/no-glove corner outfielder and DH type, to a four-year contract. If Philadelphia signs ...

It's a "stash" signing where the Dodgers will keep Duffy on the injured list and see whether he can help later this season. Duffy had flexor tendon surgery in October and is expected to return sometime around June. He said he considered retiring this offseason. The Yankees received minor league righty Justin Lange in the trade. If Philadelphia signs Castellanos, they will bank on their offense more than making up for the runs they allow defensively. Philadelphia has roughly $13 million in spending room under the threshold at the moment. View Profile

Having already made one big splash in free agency, the Philadelphia Phillies might not be done adding to their roster. Per The Athletic's.

The 30-year-old hit .309/.362/.576 with 34 homers and 100 RBI in 138 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2021. He finished 12th in NL MVP voting and was named to his first All-Star team last year. Per The Athletic's Jayson Stark, the Phillies are in "serious pursuit" of Nick Castellanos. MLB Network's Jon Heyman added Friday night that the two sides are "closing in" on a deal.

Nick Castellanos is back on the Cincinnati Reds radar in free agency according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

With Shogo Akiyama, Aristides Aquino, Max Schrock, TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, and potentially Jose Barrero as the other options to round out the outfield, the Reds could really use a proven guy out there. For all of the hand-wringing that has rightfully been had over what Cincinnati has been doing since the lockout was lifted, Baseball Prospectus PECOTA system projected them as a 79-83 team as of this morning. The Cincinnati Reds outfield, no matter how you slice it, is a bit of a mess right now.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A few days after reaching an agreement with Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies are considering a free-agent slugger double-down with Nick ...

The Phillies have not announced the Schwarber deal because it’s pending a physical. And with Castellanos, a .278/.329/.486 hitter with 168 homers over nine seasons, they would have similar thump. But it was effective in their salad days of 2007 to 2009, when they bashed their way to back-to-back pennants and a World Series championship. He assembled a World Series-winning team in 2018 after Boston Red Sox owner John Henry agreed to pay the luxury tax. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski declined last week to talk in specifics about the team’s budget after the new CBA was finalized. The 26-year-old is projected to make $4.3 million in his first year of salary arbitration and would be under team control through 2024. They have spoken with the Tampa Bay Rays about a potential trade for left fielder Austin Meadows, according to another source. But a source doubted they would wind up as the highest bidder. They would be charged a 20% tax on every dollar over $230 million until the next threshold of $250 million. In addition to pushing the payroll past the luxury-tax threshold for the first time in club history, it would mean the forfeiture of a second-round draft pick. The move would represent a marked change in approach. And with the rival New York Mets tapping into owner Steve Cohen’s riches in an attempt to take back the National League East and Castellanos’s options unclear three weeks before opening day, Phillies ownership, led by John Middleton, may believe the time has come to splurge.

Castellanos batted .309 with 34 homers, 100 RBIs and a .939 OPS last year for the Cincinnati Reds, making his first All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger ...

Back in November, Castellanos opted out of the last two years of his contract with Cincinnati, which would have paid him $34 million. “We definitely need somebody who gives us the best chance to win. They also brought back outfielder Odubel Herrera on a one-year contract. He’d be a great middle-of-the-order bat for us,” Harper said. Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski was president and general manager of the Tigers when they drafted Castellanos in 2010 and he debuted with Detroit in 2013. It was the second big free-agent splash this week for the Phillies, who are beefing up their lineup to compete with the busy Braves and Mets in the NL East. Kyle Schwarber agreed to a four-year contract worth about $80 million, a deal that also was pending a successful physical.

From the cost to the lineup to how it impacts others, here are 10 thoughts on the Phillies' deal with Nick Castellanos. By Corey Seidman.

It is the fourth time in five years the Phils have lost a high pick by signing a top free agent. The Phillies will likely have to slug their way to wins with one of baseball’s worst defenses and the always unpredictable bullpen. The Phillies do not need to trade him, but they have added two more middle-of-the-order bats, one of whom can play first base, and Hoskins has not yet been extended. They’re positioned well to do so with Harper, Castellanos, Schwarber, Hoskins, Realmuto and Segura in the same lineup. It would have to be the right sort of return, though, a player who could help as much as Hoskins. There’s no great urgency for the Phillies to make this move but it’s worth keeping in the back of your mind. Since this would be their first year exceeding the tax, they’d be subject to the lowest penalty of 20%. Exceed it two years in a row and that rises to 30%. Three years in a row and it’s 50%. This is relevant because the Phillies will still have a ton of money committed toward 2023 and 2024, and if they do progress into becoming an actual contender, the spending won’t just stop. On defense, they aren’t above average anywhere with the exception of Realmuto behind the plate and maybe Segura at second. Harper was impressive defensively in 2019 but less so the last two seasons as he dealt with nagging injuries, including a back issue that caused him to alter his throwing motion. Castellanos’ presence should affect the rest of the lineup in a positive way. Up and down the lineup, Phillies players should feel less pressure. Phillies fans had grown skeptical that they’d ever exceed the luxury tax after several years of managing partner John Middleton saying they would for the right opportunity. J. T. Realmuto doesn’t have to be relied upon as the cleanup hitter or second-best run producer, he can settle more naturally into a complementary offensive role.

11:24pm: The deal does not contain any opt-out clauses, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today. 10:32pm: It's a five-year deal worth $100MM, Heyman reports ...

Time will tell whether the Phillies have done enough to overcome the aforementioned bullpen and defensive concerns in a difficult division. In order to get to that point, the Phils will push their payroll north of the base luxury tax threshold. The hiring of Dombrowski — a famously aggressive executive — last offseason signified that ownership was prepared to push some chips in as part of an effort to put a competitive team back on the field. Because Cincinnati made him a qualifying offer, Philadelphia will lose their second-highest and fifth-highest selections in the 2022 draft and $1MM in international bonus pool space as compensation for signing Castellanos. The 2021 Phillies already ranked last in the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved, and that wasn’t an issue unique to last year’s team. His deal has a $14MM CBT hit, so finding a taker for that money could be a way to avoid paying the tax. Long a steady and productive hitter with his original organization, the Tigers, Castellanos elevated his game to new heights upon being traded to the Cubs in 2019. From a CBT perspective, Castellanos’ $20MM average annual value is the relevant number regardless of how the money is paid out. The Phillies have ranked among the worst defensive teams in baseball for more than a half decade now, regularly trotting out subpar defenders and embarking on curious defensive experiments that have not proven fruitful (e.g. Rhys Hoskins in left field). Adding Castellanos to a lineup that already includes Schwarber, reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, slugger Rhys Hoskins and the steadily productive Jean Segura gives the Phillies the potential for a dominant lineup — particularly if young talents like Alec Bohm and top prospect Bryson Stott can solidify themselves as big league contributors. The Reds, meanwhile, will gain a compensatory pick after the first round of the 2022 draft. Castellanos is a client of the Boras Corporation.