There’s no doubt that outfielder Nicholas Castellanos has established himself as one of the majors’ best trade deadline acquisitions this year. Since he went from the Tigers to the Cubs on July 31, Castellanos has slashed .333/.359/.673 with 14 home runs in 167 plate appearances. He’s tied for 21st among position players in fWAR (1.5) dating back to the start of August, while his 160 wRC+ ranks an even better 18th.
Not only has Castellanos’ late-season production been beneficial to the Cubs, who are trying to grab a playoff spot in a hotly contested National League race, but it figures to help his cause on the cusp of a potential trip to free agency. The 27-year-old will be among the premier offensive players on the open market should he get there, which agent Scott Boras implied is likely to happen.
“He’s the youngest free agent, and he doesn’t have a qualifying offer,” Boras told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. “So I would say he’s in position to be optimally observed because he fits, really, the m.o. of any team — whether you’re a rebuilding club, because of his age, whether you’re a club that’s close to winning and wants to win, or whether you’re a club that is an existing top-eight club that’s going to compete for the World Series. He’s one of those guys that fits all clubs.”
Whether Castellanos “fits all clubs” is up for debate. After all, his defense has been widely panned at multiple positions since his first full season in Detroit back in 2014. Castellanos spent the initial portion of his career at third base, but he had such difficulty there that the Tigers elected to move him to right field on a full-time basis a couple years back. He has since garnered negative reviews in right, including in 2019. Through almost 1,100 innings in the grass this season, Castellanos has accounted for minus-8 Defensive Runs Saved, a minus-4.8 Ultimate Zone Rating and minus-5 Outs Above Average.
Castellanos’ ongoing issues in the field may well tamp down his value in free agency, and they could turn off certain National League teams from pursuing him because of a lack of a designated hitter option. That said, Castellanos is a long-respectable hitter who has been highly valuable in the NL this year as a member of the Cubs. Plus, as Boras noted, there won’t be a qualifying offer weighing him down because he was part of an in-season trade. That probably won’t be the case for the Cardinals’ Marcell Ozuna – arguably the top corner outfielder nearing free agency – as he figures to receive a QO from his team.
Just how aggressive Chicago will be in trying to retain Castellanos is up in the air at this point. Unsurprisingly, though, Boras doesn’t seem as if he’s in the mood to give the Cubs a discount. While Boras informed Wittenmyer that it would be customary for a free agent to “want to listen to the Cubs” – one of the game’s highest-spending franchises – he expects Castellanos to “listen to everybody.” Castellanos isn’t ready to discuss his post-2019 future, which is to be expected, as he suggested his focus is on the current campaign. Despite Castellanos’ best efforts, the Cubs very well could miss the playoffs this year for the first time since 2014. They’ll head into Friday tied with the Christian Yelich-less Brewers for the NL’s second wild-card spot.
coldbeer
Somebody ask Boras about Aaron Sanchez’s market…
Then ask him how his entire free agency market turned out for him last year…
joparx
Boras gets one or 2 clients big contracts and then loses a bunch of money for other, moustakas had to take 7 mil(if I remember correctly) after he rejected an 18 million dollar QO, no one is giving castellanos some huge contract, it’s not the way of baseball any longer
coldbeer
Seems like maybe front offices and, more importantly, the team owners are a bit fed up with deals they’ve done with him that turned out absolutely horrendously for their respective bottom lines.
deweybelongsinthehall
If JDM opts out, wouldn’t it seem like a conflict for Boras (or his office) to represent both JDM and Castellanos? Despite the age difference, they’re competing for the same DH, lousy to just ok OFer that can hit a ton position. I realize this has been going on ever since free agency started but the world has changed and I can see sooner or later a player suing his own agent over this. Agents have been sued before but I think it can get worse.
pt57
It‘s all out in the open. If Castellanos or Martinez don’t trust Boras, they should fire him.
Jvall77
if JDM ops out of his contract, well first I’ll laugh cause JDM an Boras would be completely stupid , an get absolutely destroyed.
Look at the market , he can’t do better then that
wordonthestreet
Too funny. No a player is not going to win a lawsuit against his agent for a “conflict” in representation of another player that where everyone knows who all the players the agent represents.
If such a player feels their is a “conflict” well … hhhhmm … I know …. he can hire a different agent
al avias phone
he’s a one way player.no way he gets stupid $ this off-season.he might sit through spring training
Steve Adams
$330M for Harper
$56M for Kikuchi
$36M for Britton
$21M for Marwin
$11M for Harvey and for Moustakas
$7M for Rosenthal
$5M for Mercer
$3.25M for Holland
$2.75M for Oliver Perez
$1.4M for Hellickson
Boras Corp whiffed on Keuchel, obviously, and on Martin Maldonado as well. Came in lighter than most expected on Marwin, too. But broadly speaking, the whole narrative that Boras “only cared about Harper and screwed everyone else” is pretty off-base.
JuanValdezz
I’d love for the Cubs to sign Castellanos but he and Schwarber means bad OF defense. It’s one or the other. Boras like likely price Castellanos high and the Cubs have more of a need for a leadoff hitter. I believe the Cubs have the worst lead off stats in the majors. Schwarber to the AL for a lead off hitter is a must if thet retain Castellanos.
Go get Ozuna instead or Castellanos and trade Schwaeber.
frustratedpittsburghpiratesfan
Castellanos will get North of 17 mil per year.
CursedRangers
That’s what everyone was saying about Moose as well.
fabulous61
Ozuna isn’t a lead off hitter and they’re going to spend some serious money if they get him and on top of that he’s probably not a much better outfielder than Castellanos.
chicagofan1978
No chance in hell he goes to an NL team
Tigernut2000
Yeah, that’s what everyone said prior to the trade deadline.
NoviScott
Trade market and Free Agent market are different. They were filling a hole to get into the playoffs. Plus TigersNut- you are forgetting one thing- Avila orchestrated this beauty of a trade. He probably only went to NL teams.
deweybelongsinthehall
Avila went to every team, looking for leverage to get the best return. The Tigers are in last. Why would he care short term if he for example helps even their rivals (do the Tigers really have a rival in 2019, maybe the Orioles?).
Tigernut2000
Ahh yes, the prowess of AA. I completely forgot we have the sharpest GM in MLB.
NoviScott
DeweyWins, way off. He doesn’t know how to leverage. Incompetent GM.
al avias phone
lol exactly
downsr30
He is a great fit in the Cubs lineup, and it would allow the Cubs to trade Almora/Happ for some bullpen help.
coldbeer
Happ for Giles and 1 of Fisher/Alford/Mckinney/Davis…
downsr30
I think Happ/Almora might get you a second tier reliever in return. It won’t be anything special, but the Cubs badly need quantity and quality for their pen.
coldbeer
Despite his struggles I think Happ has more appeal because he is versatile in the field and still under team control. Giles could bring that high leverage situation production hes provided the Jays this year. Maybe that division helps too…
deweybelongsinthehall
Be careful of Giles. No pressure pitching for the Jays this year.
Priggs89
Happ somehow has even less value now than he did when they decided to send him down. He had one good week in the beginning of August, and now he is trash again.
coldbeer
Happ still has options per rr. I think he has more upside than Cubs fans think. I’d take him on the Jays that’s for sure.
firegibby
Lol no one wants our awful of players.
Down with OBP
Sure I’d take him on the Jays, but as part of a package to get Giles. We already have enough 4th OF / UTIL types we are hoping turn something around to want Happ that badly.
Kayrall
Happ’s value is very low. Almora is a non-tender candidate.
pt57
If the Cubs keep Castellanos, they’ll need Almora as a def replacement.
Asfan0780
Would 1 year of blake treinen to cubs get anything of value? I cant see A’s risking high amount arbitration next year
JuanValdezz
He is not a fit if Schwarber is in left. We have NO leadoff hitter. Bryant needs to play one position: 3B, 1B, LF. or RF. Switching positions has affected his hitting.
Joe’s lets the boys be boys ain’t working. We lost Pryor due to a slide and Baez’s acrobatic head first slides make him ElMago and a candidates for injury.
As much as I love them, two of these three need to go: Schwarber, Bryant and Rizzo.
fabulous61
From what I’ve been hearing Joe probably isn’t going to be there deciding who plays where after this season ends. Most likely gone if they miss the playoffs and possibly if they do make the playoffs.
RicoD
Rizzo isn’t/shouldn’t go anywhere with team control. The other 2 are possible though. Bryant is great but will be more and more expensive the longer they keep him.
Ejemp2006
The Cubs have more pressure to compete next year than any other team in the league. This core’s window is closing and the bad contracts for Darvish and Heyward don’t leave much room for any new mistakes. I see them paying a few guys short term deals with high annual averages.
Erik
I wouldn’t call them “bad” contracts after this year. Heyward and Darvish are two of the biggest reasons the Cubs are still alive in this thing
ChiSoxCity
Considering how much they’ve paid Heyward to date, his contract is terrible. They still owe him $84MM. Yeah, I’ll pass on that.
quonset point
I see Castellanos ending up in Chicago, but probably with the White Sox, who have money to play with
rayrayner
What kind of contract do you think Nick gets? My off-the-cuff guess: 3 years, $40 million
Ejemp2006
I would say more like 4/32 or 4/40, with opt out clauses. He isn’t going to earn more than Moose, annual average wise. He doesn’t hit well enough to be a game changing DH and he doesn’t field well enough to up any team’s commitment.
sjwil1
4/$70m more like it
chicagofan1978
I don’t think there’s really any room for him. I would not want an outfield with him and Jimenez for years. Also if they dh him that would limit their usage of Abreu as dh assuming he resigns. Not gonna lie though I’d like him on the Sox
ChiSoxCity
The Sox aren’t signing Castellanos.
Fuck Me Bitch
According to Baseball Reference in 875 games Castellanos has a WAR of 6.8. That’s about 1.1 per season, which is between replacement level and starter. Hey, Boras, baseball is a two-way game, and he can’t play any defensive position, so how much is he really worth?
Melchez
He is unplayable in the field and there is no chance he ends up in the national league. Mlbtr has been saying that for so long, you guys believe it. God forbid you should open your eyes and watch a baseball game. Castellanos has done very well with the Cubs. Oh, and that war thing? A guy hitting the way he is definitely cannot be replaced by a aaa hitter.
Bocephus
Well said Melchez. These WAR geeks need to get a clue.
CFAP
Melchez, good points. If people haven’t realized yet that defense means nothing in baseball any longer, especially a corner OF, then they aren’t paying attention. If you can hit, you will play. It’s that simple in today’s game. And if you have power, you will most definitely get all the ABs you want. How did Matt Holliday survive all those years in the NL?
crazylarry
The Boras BS starts early. In other words he really is saying “ I have a little above average slugger here who can’t play defense and we want the moon for him”.
greatd
Darvish or Arrieta at this point?
Kayrall
It’s funny because it was so opposite this time last year, but at this point, easily Darvish. Arrieta is having elbow surgery in a down year and only one to go. Darvish has been one of the top starters in baseball since July 1st.
Mikel Grady
Arrieta contract is over after next year while Darvish Cubs marriage is for 3 more years . Darvish if he continues where he is now . I worry about his injury history .
CFAP
Boras, the ride is over. Your road of b.s. has reached a dead end.
Bocephus
Take your pill
CFAP
What the hell does that mean? Do you have anything to offer other than 5th grade comedy?
Bocephus
First off it’s 7th grade comedy, and second what did you offer in the first place besides pure bitterness, and ridiculous conjecture?
CFAP
I offered that nobody cares about Boras any longer. He’s not the cock of the walk like he thinks he is.
Steven Chinwood
“What the hell does this mean?” I think it means to take your meds.
Tim Newport
Agreed…any player who still has him as an agent deserves the financial beating so many of his clients have taken recently..
its_happening
Boras will point to Randal Grichuk’s bad contract and command more for Castellanos. Add the fact that he will not be receiving a QO. He’s now in an excellent situation.
h0wmyd0ing
Defensive metrics are just absurd. Real as the Easter Bunny… so tired of hearing about them.
I’m on board with most offensive advanced analysis but these defensive matrixes are bad. That isn’t to defend this dudes defense but the numbers being assigned simply can’t be quantified with any level of legit anything.
Karlander
As usual, more Boras BS. Castellanos is already slow of foot and very poor defensively. . Any team that signs him to more than two years is going to get burned. In three years he will be a DH in Tampa Bay hitting . 231
DanielDannyDano
Nick Castellanos as a free agent has Toronto written all over it. The market for Castellanos is very limited for sure and Atkins/Shapiro have some big money coming off the books. Justin Smoak will be a free agent so the 1b./dh spots are open and Nick at first can’t be much worse than Rowdy Tellez. The Jays are in serious need of quality starting pitching and more left handed hitting, but Castellanos’ poor defensive record is going to limit his pricetag and Shatkins cannot pass up a bargain. Say what you want, Nick Castellanos has a monster bat.
jdgoat
I’m holding out hope for the slim chance at Rendon but putting Castellanos behind Bo and Vlad is a nice alternative.
its_happening
It would require the Jays to get rid of McKinney, Grichuk and Fisher. Only McKinney might be gone. As bad as Castellanos is on D, he can’t be any worse than what the Jays currently have. At least Castellanos has a rocket arm. That is something the Blue Jays lack in RF. Not against Castellanos signing in Toronto. Doubt the regime wants to deal with Boras.
Although I echo what JDGoat is saying regarding Rendon, the Jays won’t sign him. I would settle for DiDi to play SS, move Bo to 2B, Biggio to Zobrist status and play him everyday.
mistry gm
There are to many good players outthere to fool around with Boras. Boycott all his players and they will go to some other legit agent and bring some sanity back to the off season. Boras is a greedy ass.
Ejemp2006
Castellanos to the Padres might happen, if the owners really want to play hardball in the next CBA. Maybe a 4/60 contract would do it. Then the Padres would help the owners make a perfect case to show these bloated contracts don’t help teams win. Sign Porcello too at 3/40 and double down a bad bet.
terry g
The art of the spin is alive and well.
ForestCobraAL
So we know Castallanos will be looking for a job in March.
al avias phone
“premiere offensive player”?!! uh,nah..he was exposed when he was the main hitter in the line up.ol stone hands is a butcher at almost any position.good riddance!
cubfanforever
Castellanos may not be a stud defensively but I haven’t seen him butcher the outfield since he came over to the Cubs. The guy is a professional stick and a doubles machine. He’ll lengthen the lineup and I want him back on the north side of Chicago. Theo, get it done.
desertbull
1. His D is obviously not good but Detroit is a huge outfield and a move to a smaller park and LF would help slightly. Unless Cubs trade Schwarber he is most likely not coming back to the Cubs. Heyward is a good CFer but more value in RF.
cubfanforever
No issues if the Cubs trade Schwarber.
While left handed power hitters don’t grow on trees, Castellanos can move to left. Provide decent defense, Schwarber like power numbers and he’ll hit 40 points higher.
Bennybosox
I wonder if the Red Sox would consider Castellanos if JD opts out. I haven’t seen any projected contract talk but I can’t imagine that Castellanos gets more than the 3/$62 owed to JD. Even with his age/second half production he’s not that highly thought of
luvbeisbol
He’s not playable anywhere defensively and he’s a decent not great hitter. He’s not worth the $10M AAV he’s getting now. He is worth a 25 man roster spot at the right price which is south of his current wage.
Bjoe
Can’t believe he’s only 27. Seem like he’s been around a while.
bonquisha
Lol at ppl who think hell get more than 40 mil. 2 years 20 mil max
RicoD
2/20? Sounds off to me
ElMagoN9ne
Hopefully the Cubs re-sign Castellanos. 20mil off the books from hamels. Boras will likely demand at least 6 years. Ultimately ita Castellanos choice. I think 5/110m would be perfect for him. Unfortunately Scott Boras is a leech and will do everything possible to get him out of chicago. He’ll do the same for KB. He has his way to pry his agents away from their comfort zones. He’s well known for that.
22m aav is.perfect for castellanos.
Even better 5/89m 17.5m aav.
That will give them a chance to sign Gerrit Cole(which I dont think it will happen)