12:30pm: The Diamondbacks are also showing some interest, Morosi tweets. It’s good news for Castellanos to have National League teams involved, though it’s still not clear which if any would be interested in a lengthy commitment.
10:42am: The Giants have joined the Cubs in showing interest in free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos, according to a report from Jon Morosi of MLB.com. Other pursuers remain unknown.
Castellanos is one of the many Scott Boras-repped players populating the upper reaches of the open market. He joins Marcell Ozuna among the top-available outfield options.
While it’s a bit worrisome to imagine Castellanos patrolling the spacious Oracle Park outfield, the club is pulling in the fences this winter. And as Morosi notes, it’s also possible that the youthful slugger could at some point step back into the infield. (He never managed to stick at third base previously but could presumably be expected to play a palatable first base.)
Castellanos is an exceptionally difficult free agent to prognosticate. We ultimately settled on a prediction of four years and $58MM, but batted around quite a few alternative concepts. Castellanos is an accomplished but hardly all-world hitter who has shown some improvements in the field but remains a bat-first player. Involvement of the Giants in his market would assuredly help, as the level of demand has constituted a major element of uncertainty in the earning outlook.
He’s not going to SF. He got all upset about how he could be so much better in a hitter’s park when he was with Detroit. He went to Chicago and hit 16 bombs in only 51 games. SF is not exactly a hitters park. I know that they moved in the fences but that was only about 6 feet in right-center field. I’m guessing he stays in Chicago.
If they throw the most money at him he most certainty won’t be to concerned with Oracles dimensions.
They won’t – they’re not planning to contend this year or next; Any claims that they’ll go after this guy are just posturing.
I beg to differ. I think the SFG will go after Castellanos or Ozuna. They need the power hitting OFer. And they need to distract the disappointed fans who have now lost all the entire bullpen, MadBum, Will Smith and Kevin Pillar. They need to make some big splashes to calm the SF waters. The team itself can’t be pleased. I know I am not!
58 doubles between Detroit and Chicago. 21 just with the cubs 16 home runs with the Cubs too. He’s a doubles machine.
Theo needs to hurry up and re-sign him.
He could regress a bit but I agree, wrek, the Cubs should give him another go, see if they catch lightning in a bottle with him again.
if he gets paid it’s not going to matter if it’s a hitters park or not
He is definitely going to SF. Especially because they got Scott Harris as their GM. Harris was one of the guys pushing for the Castellanos trade. Definitely going to SF
Why? Sure our outfield is bad, but so is our whole team. We won’t compete till at least 2022 so save the money till then. Better yet, use it to invest in international scouting.
Why not enter the discussion so someone else has to pay a little bit more? Hopefully by the time they’re actually ready to contend, he could be an albatross contract to that someone else. Makes sense for that reason only. To actually sign him? No thanks.
Because contracts given lay the foundation for future contracts. If you drive up the cost on a player now, you are driving up the cost on a future acquisition for yourself down the road, even more so with inflation added to it.
2022 isn’t really the targed date – more like 2021, it is expected that bart, ramos luciano, hjelle are on track for 2020/2021 and the FA class is going to suck in the near future so if you can lock someone for 2-3 years you may be better off to do it to lean into the transition, especially with so much $ coming off the books and nowhere to spend it
Just because they have money coming off the books in the next few years doesn’t mean they should add to the books now. Castelanos, Ozuna, or whoever else only makes this team a couple of wins better at most. When half the lineup is Posey, Belt, Crawford, and Longoria you are screwed regardless of who you add. Let all the contracts expire before adding big ticket free agents. They should only be looking at dudes who got non-tendered or 1 year bounce back candidates.
they can do both – posey, belt, crawford, cueto, shark,, all come off the books in the next couple of years and farhan has been vocal about wanting to move longoria’s contract. 2022 has something like 20-30mm on the books – there is a lot of space and no reason not to use it.
@wolf chan
The free agent class is going to suck in the near future?
You do realize players like Betts, Springer, Simmons, Villar, Bauer, and Robby Ray will ll be free agents next winter.
Then Lindor, Correa, Seager, Freeman, Baez, Arenado (has an opt-out), Thor, Kluber, Scherzer, Kershaw, and Verlander are all free agents after the 2021 season!
That doesn’t sound like it sucks to me!
Baez will never be a free agent
Except a lot of those guys will sign extensions and never make it to free agency. The projected classes 1-2 years out always look better.
I think we can compete in 2021. Castellanos will be in the 3rd year of his deal by then, and by then Bart, Hunter Bishop, Luciano, Hjelle, and Helios Ramos will all be in the bigs. Yastrzemski will be in his prime, so 2021 is definitely the year. Castellanos is definitely a good fit because he will have fit in by then and will mold solidly in the outfield with Heliot Ramos and yazstremski. Yazstremski will be in right and Castellanos would be in left, so there is no worry about triples alley.
When I read this headline I thought the same thing that Jeff Todd pointed out; Castellanos is not a good fit for 81 games in that ballpark. That’s arguably the most difficult right field to cover in all of baseball. I think if a NL team gives him more than 3 years, it could be regrettable. There’s no doubt the guy can rake, but in this day in age of launch angles and all the fly balls its probably better to have a strong defensive outfield. Maybe he can improve his defense with hard work and practice but I think he is what he is at this point. I think the White Sox, Indians and Red Sox (if they trade Betts) make the most sense. Cleveland may be looking for a right-handed corner option however. I think the best corner outfielder on the market, as far as value, is Corey Dickerson.
Same here. I love that ballpark but it is brutal on a right fielder. The Giants would be better off with a lighter bat/speedier guy out there.
Keep in mind their division road games are also in parks with a lot of grass to cover.
If he went to the Giants it would likely be as a LF/1B.
Exactly! He’d play LF and/or 1st (with Zaidi hopefully trading Belt). Yaz will start the year in RF and they’ll see if his bat keeps him in the lineup. Defensively, Yaz can handle RF at Oracle (or CF in a pinch).
Yaz is already targeted to CF after the non-tender to Pillar. He spent most of his minor league career in CF, so they think the transition will be a no-brainer.
He will end up in Chicago with either White Sox or Cubs because they are both hitters parks. His defense also can be hidden a little bit better in both. If Cubs sign him look for Schwarber to be traded to the AL were he belongs
When I look at the list of players that could potentially be traded, Schwarber is right at the top. The Cubs have expressed a desire to shake things up and I think that Schwarber has enough value, that an AL team looking for power could offer a package enticing enough for the Cubs to deal him. The Rays need power and Schwarber could be an inexpensive alternative to what they already have and what’s available on the free agent market. How about Schwarber to TB for McKay straight up?
(1) The Rays need RH power much more than LH power
(2) Nate Lowe = Kyle Schwarber, only much cheaper
(3) You’re not getting McKay for anything less than Bryant or Rizzo.
(4) IF ( a HUGE IF) the Rays invest, it’s much more likely they sign Castellanos.
Castellanos will play right. Schwarber is gonna stay in left
Ugh, that’s a bad OF.
How Heyward is a gold glove outfielder. Schwarber is not as bad the talking heads say he is. He’s a catcher by trade. 2018 he had 12 OF assists. More than double of anyone else. He makes 2 errors in the NLCS in 2015 and he’s worse than austin Kearns and Adam Dunn. For the record he’s made less than 15 errors since then. 14 errors in 4 years.
Castellanos isnt great but did just fine in right at Wrigley
Heyward isn’t as good in CF as he is in RF, Schwarber isn’t exactly going to cover a ton of ground in LF, and it’s generally accepted that Castellanos isn’t very good defensively.
The number of competitive suitors for Castellanos appears to be limited. The Cubs are known to have interest. Their seems to be a fit with both the Whitesox and Indians. The Reds could be a possibility. Other than that, the other teams with interest are rebuilding.
White Sox are rebuilding. They’ve already spent over 132m. Thafz their payroll on two players.
I think they are “all in” this year considering the Grandal signing and they interest in a SP like Wheeler. Those aren’t rebuilding moves.
They just spent all available payroll on two players. One was an extension. The other was an overpay for Grandal. They had a projected payroll of 165mil for 2020 they spent 133mil on 2 players. According to sportrac they have 19.998 mil to apend that’s after arbitration contracts. So they’re not getting wheeler. He’s not going to a team that wont make the playoffs for 75% of a 6 year deal
Agreed. I’m think the Sox are all in as well. I think all-in for the Sox is different than all-in for a lot of the major market teams. They don’t have the same payroll ceiling.
For the 17th time, give or take, I ask…
What is the gameplan for the Giants?
If you answer rebuild again I’ll have to show you, again, they aren’t rebuilding. It wasn’t in the cards and still isn’t.
Here’s what I think Zaidi’s plan is:
1. Build up the minors again. They have been bottom of the barrel for almost a decade.
2. Wait out the end of these contracts to Crawford, Belt, Posey, even Longo, and hope to trade whoever he can when he finds the opportunity (All have no-trade clauses of some sort, however). I believe 2021 is when all but Longo are done.
3. Bring up their future studs – Ramos, Bart, Luciano, Bishop, Webb, etc. by the end of 2021. I’m thinking September 2020 for some like Bart and Ramos.
I believe Zaidi doesn’t care about contending next year, nor should he with the lineups he’ll be forced to put out there. In 2021 there will be a serious changing of the guard, with the kids will be coming up and the veterans will be moving on, either by a long-awaited release, trade, or bench. Tons of money will be coming off the books and they will look primed for a couple of free agent acquisitions. I predict back to the playoffs in 2022..
This whole kicking the tires on Castellanos is just that – kicking the tires. If they get a bat like that I’m sure the plan is to make sure that bat is in play when 2022 hits. Otherwise, they will do what they did last year and grab low cost/high upside players and see who fits.
Zaidi isn’t kicking tires. He is serious. I think too many people give this guy way too much credit. Not buying it.
Zaidi is doing a great job so far. He’s brought in Yaz, Dickerson, Solano last year. Got rid of Melancon’s contract. He even went after Harper last year which shows he’s willing to spend money on the right player. Just bc they are linked to Castellanos doesn’t mean they will sign him. All teams should be checking on free agents that could better their team.
Harper was not taken serious. Can’t believe you believed that. It was a pure smokescreen. Giants were never actually going after Harper because they were not willing to go over luxury for 2019.
Zaidi has done nothing of merit at this point. Anyone else would have done the same and more in his position. Longoria should be traded given the competition over Donaldson and Rendon. It isn’t even being discussed. That is because the GM is not looking to rebuild.
theres no point in talking baseball with someone who thinks the Giants should trade Longo bc of the competition over Donaldson and Rendon. THERE ARE NO TAKERS FOR LONGO!!!! I CANT BELIEVE YOU WOULD THINK THAT
So basically you asked what the plan was, were given thoughtful and strategic answers, and you’re basically saying you don’t believe it. and Zaidi should be trading untradeable players and signing more old veterans like Donaldson to compete against the Dodgers with a roster that is in no way able to.
If he was rebuilding, why would he sign Donaldson or Rendon? Yet, then you say the GM is not looking to rebuild and should be signing them. Seems to me he doesn’t want to keep doing quick fixes that got them into this situation in the first place and signing Donaldson would be an insane mistake.
@Jek – I did not say SF should sign Donaldon or Rendon. What I said is there are teams needing a 3B and Longoria should absolutely be dangled if a rebuild is in the cards. They aren’t trading Longoria and they aren’t rebuilding.
SF would have to eat some of Longoria’s contract, as Tampa is taking on a few dollars of the current contract. There will be a team that panics after losing the Donaldson/Rendon sweepstakes.
@commentingidiot – There are more teams looking for 3B than available 3B. SF chips in some cash, a team will entertain the idea of Longoria. Plus that team may have a bad contract to unload. Moot point as SF is trying to win in 2020.
you really have no clue what you are talking about. Trade bad contract for another bad contract? Zaidi isnt serious about Harper, but he is about Castellanos? There are a lot of teams that need pitching, should the Red Sox trade David Price and that contract? You dont get it. If the giants could trade Longo it would already be done. Stop acting like your video game trades would work in real life.
Castellanos is a cheaper option to Harper, plus SF has more financial flexibility today than they did a year ago.
Red Sox are still looking to compete. David Price is not going anywhere. Coming off 22 starts and a large contract he’s staying put anyway and the Sox need to keep starting pitchers to compete. Bad example on your part.
Longoria was a no a few months ago. Suddenly there is a need for a 3B by many teams. When there more teams vying to fill a position of need to win, that’s when guys become available. That has been the case for many years.
Are you new?
the red sox would trade David Price in a heartbeat. Its common knowledge they are trying to get under the luxury tax threshold. There are no takers on Price bc of his contract. Like what I’m saying about Longo. Just bc people are vying for Rendon and Donaldson doesnt mean they are going to look at Longo if they miss out. Longo is a league average player at this point. Getting paid 18 million a year. No one wants any of that. Teams are looking to get younger no add aging veterans.
SF’s payroll flexibility hasnt changed at all. Belt, Crawford, Posey, Longo, Shark, Cueto, are still taking up most the payroll.
Nice try acting like you know something.
Who are they supposed to trade Longoria to? Nobody is taking that contract and it’s pointless if the Giants eat money and lose prospect capital to get rid of him
I don’t think it’s a good fit tbh. That being said if it’s between him or Ozuna I’d rather have Castellanos tbh
I don’t know – when you look back it could be a morse like situation for RF, the plan according to farhan is to start playing duggar, davis and yaz in CF and to open up the corners to a power bat
Morse never played an inning in RF for the Giants.
Good, drive up the price on the scrubs.
Why would Giants consider Castellanos? Zaidi said he wanted a corner outfielder with a power bat. Castellanos wouldn’t be the power bat at Oracle Park. And, his defense would be a liability. Zaidi needs to get a real power bat and one who can also play defense.
Like…who?
Hopefully the Giants have seen every game. You can’t formulate an opinion, especially as a fan, unless you’ve seen EVERY GAME. Not most of them, but every game.
The only way it makes sense for the Cubs is if they Trade Schwarber. Putting Heywood in CF for a full season diminishes his value even more.
He should stay in the American league. Hes a natural DH and in a pinch a 3rd baseman or outfielder
Todd … please do a bit more research … your statement “the club is pulling in the fences this winter” implies that the fences from left to right would be pulled in by oh say 20 feet all around. In fact, they are relocating the bullpens to CF and right CF, which would result in the fence just in that area being moved in by 10 feet or so. Left field is unchanged and the majority of RF unchanged, still preserving much of “triples alley.”
Hoping he winds up with the White Sox. His glove isn’t great, but they play in a band box which would help both his defense and offense.
True.
But he wants too many years.
CWS only need him for one or two.
But…..but…..bat only players HAVE no value, especially in the NL?
-says everyone who claims that a healthy Miguel Andujar who has 4 years of control left. doesn’t have much trade value because of his poor defense.
2019 Nicholas Castellanos .289/.337/.525 w/ 58 doubles and 27 homers. Turns 28 in March
2018 Miguel Andujar .297/.328/.527 w/ 47 doubles and 27 homers. Turns 25 in March
If Castellanos signs with an NL team I don’t ever want to hear that bat first contact hitters with power have “little value”. Andujar is far more of a value than Castellanos since he has 1 year of re-arb and 3 arb years. Plus two options.
Hits aren’t important to these sabr puppets. 58 doubles? Meh. There’s no love for Castellanos because he only walked 45 times, last year. If he had walked 75 or 80 times, most of the comments on this site would have this guy in the HOF. Same with the writers here, too.
I find it hard to believe some team in MLB doesn’t need a guy that rakes like Castellanos. And he did an impressive amount of damage on a horrific offensive team like the Tigers the past few years. Give him some protection and I believe his #s would improve. But, what do I know? I’m just an old man yelling at a cloud. Lol
I’d love to see him with 81 games in Wrigley. The guy absolutely raked and from my eyball test his defense wasn’t that bad. I have no idea what the metrics said for the cubs but I didn’t see many horrible blunders out there.
@southpaw2153
I can see how hits and batting average don’t tell the complete story of a hitter but they’ve gone too far when they completely disregard guys that can hit around .300, 175 hits and 70-80 extra base hits,
I wouldn’t say their is no love. Wait and see what he signs for. I’m guessing he gets paid well and does not sign with the Cubs.
There’s a couple of pretty big differences though. Teams are probably more willing to spend just money on Castellanos with his track record and the fact that he’s played in one of the leagues worst offensive parks. Andujar is coming off major surgery with only one year of production in a bandbox. Similar players, sure. But different circumstances which will not equal similar suitors.
If I’m Casty, I go for the shorter term, get 17.5M AAV for 2 years and a 3rd mutual option with a 3-5M buyout, then hope the new CBA fixes the NL so they have a DH, then re-up again in two years hoping to get something around 15M AAV for another 4 years
I bet he cries after signing anywhere that shows green.
Castellanos went bonkers with the bat at the right time. Unless the money is right or you plan to stick him at 1B or DH I wouldn’t want him defensively.
He’s staying in Chicago. He loves it there. And even though he has Boras, Castellanos is in control of where he wants to go. He made that clear.
If Castellanos wants the Cubs he’ll need to take less $, CHC have payroll space issues that are serious given you hear them floating Contreras, Bryant, Rizzo in trade. rumors
Oracle park is fair in LF, neutral in CF and unfair in RF-RC. I think a hitter like Castellanos would be successful there and yes SF needs to get far less LHB with their lineup.
I see Belt getting moved as his NTC is limited and while his contract doesn’t have surplus value but from a production vs CBT # it’s not bad. Any team who plays in a neutral park
Nowhere in the article do I see the White Sox mentioned amongst the teams interested in him. Why? Supposedly both the Chicago teams were considered the top two locations for him.
After seeing three starting pitchers, including two the Sox were supposedly interested in, go to other teams, I am starting to smell last off season over again. Tell us your going to spend and then get beat out. I don’t care if you sign 50 DH type guys, that rotation still sucks and until you get two more quality starters or a top dog and maybe resign Nova as A 5th starter, you will be looking at a sub .500 team! Get off your butt and do something Hahn!
It’s not so much that JR isn’t willing to spend, the problem is that players have to WANT to go there. The south side’s front office doesn’t have the best reputation. This is the same front office that was so clueless and inept at SELF scouting that they thought they were contenders and claimed to be “All in” when they traded Tatis Jr for James F’n Sheilds then went on to literally lose more games than teams ACTIVELY tanking. In fact, the last stud MLB FA they signed in his prime was Albert(or Joey?) Belle and that was over 2 decades ago and dude was literally crazy. Manny spurned them last year for a lower AAV to join the lowly Padres, not even a contender. It is what it is.
JR’s loyalty to inept front office clowns have rendered both the Bulls and Sox irrelevant jokes in spite of being in one of the largest markets in sports. It’s sad and disgusting. GarPax/Rick and Kenny need to go or it will NEVER change.
Haha! They were never in it Just lip service.
Who would go there with the possible death penalty hanging over their head?
Cubs trading Schwarber Happ and Chatwood to Oakland for Pinder and Mengden
Gosh, I hope not
He’s a huge risk defensively. He refused to try first base with tigers . Once t gf e bat speed slows and it will soon he will be a bust. By all means throw millions at a streaky whiny underachieving cancer .
someone is bitter
I don’t think Chicago fans would agree with that assessment.