*Photo from NBC Sports*
The Cincinnati Reds have signed OF Nicholas Castellanos to a 4 year, $64 million deal, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The contract contains opt outs for Castellanos after this season and the 2021 season. Due to the signing of Castellanos, Reds OF Nick Senzel is reportedly on the trade block. Castellanos will have a physical to complete the deal, and it could be made official in a few days. The Reds have not confirmed the deal.
Castellanos hit .289 with 27 homers and 73 RBI in 2019 for the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs. 11 of his homers came with the Tigers, and his final 16 of the season came with the Cubs after being traded to Chicago on the July 31 trade deadline. Castellanos has been a solid hitter in his major league career, hitting .277 with 120 homers and 460 RBI in his 7 years in the major leagues. The biggest knock on Castellanos has been his below average defense in right field, recording a minus 9 runs saved in right field last season. Castellanos has reportedly been working on his defensive skills ever since the trade to Chicago at the trade deadline.
The Reds placed 12th in the majors in batting average and runs scored in just a 75 win season in 2019, so improving the offense was a point of need for Cincinnati this offseason. The Reds have solidified their order by signing Japanese OF Shogo Akiyama, and signed 3B/2B Mike Moustakas to a 4 year, $64 million deal in December. Just for good measure, the Reds also signed LHP Wade Miley this winter to help solidify the back end of the rotation. Castellanos creates a traffic jam in the Reds outfield depth chart, which now includes Castellanos, Akiyama, Senzel, Aristedes Aquino, Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin, and Scott Schebler.
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