There hasn’t been many rumblings linking Nicholas Castellanos to the Cardinals this offseason, though one rival executive suggests to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link) that Castellanos would be a better answer to the Cards’ outfield needs than Marcell Ozuna. We’ve addressed the Castellanos/Ozuna debate ourselves in a recent Free Agent Faceoff, though from the executive’s standpoint, Castellanos is preferable for St. Louis since he isn’t attached to any draft pick compensation. If the Cards were to re-sign Ozuna, they’d miss out on the compensatory draft pick they are slated to receive if he signed elsewhere, since Ozuna rejected the qualifying offer. Signing Castellanos, however, would both upgrade the St. Louis outfield and still leave the Cardinals in line for the extra pick.
On the flip side, the Cards’ apparent lack of interest in Castellanos may signal that they simply prefer Ozuna, who is both a comparable talent and is a more known quantity to the Cardinals’ staff and front office. Recent reports suggest that the Cards, Reds, and Rangers are all still in the mix for Ozuna, while Texas also has some interest in Castellanos, but perhaps only as a first baseman. Along with Josh Donaldson, Castellanos and Ozuna are the headliners of a rapidly-depleted free agent crop as we approach the middle of January, and it will be interesting to see which clubs (perhaps a known suitor or a mystery team) wind up with these big bats.
Some more from around baseball…
- Richard Urena was recently acquired by the Orioles on a waiver claim, though the infielder could have theoretically ended up in the black and orange five years ago, MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko writes. When the Blue Jays considered the possibility of trading prospects to Baltimore as compensation for hiring Dan Duquette out of his contract as the O’s executive VP of baseball operations, Kubatko notes that Urena was one of the names the Jays offered. Talks never went anywhere, however, and Toronto instead hired Mark Shapiro as its new president and CEO in mid-2015. As for Urena, he stands a good chance at winning a bench job in Baltimore, as the Orioles were in need of a backup shortstop option behind Jose Iglesias.
- Another Orioles move could also be on the way, as Kubatko reports that the team is close to adding an experienced catcher. It’s probably safe to assume that this will be a minor league signing, as the Orioles already have a fair amount of catching depth with Chance Sisco, Pedro Severino, and Austin Wynns lined up behind the plate.
- The Mets announced earlier this week that former infielder Reid Brignac will manage the single-A Columbia Fireflies in 2020. This will mark the first managerial or coaching gig for Brignac, who retired in mid-2018 following a 15-year playing career. Brignac appeared in 369 Major League games over parts of nine seasons, suiting up for six different teams but seeing most of his action (256 games) with the Rays from 2008-12. Brignac will have a couple of other familiar names joining him on Columbia’s staff, as Jerome Williams was named the new pitching coach and Mariano Duncan will be the Fireflies’ new hitting coach.
Plus, Castellanos performing well is salt in the Cubs wound.
Assuming the contract works out
Jason Heyward and Dexter Fowler would like a word.
Who would have been the one negotiating potential compensation for the active GM?
Who is Bond compared to Kronsteen
Probably the teams president…..
Esmil Rogers.
IIRC it was Peter Angelos negotiating directly with Blue Jays ownership. I do not remember who was advising him in terms of potential player acquisition. I definitely remember that Angelos took the stance that a contract is a contract and that the O’s would have deserved significant compensation to allow Duquette to break the contract (remember that Angelos is/was a trial lawyer). The sentiment among the fans at the time was that any compensation would have been good for allowing someone to leave who didn’t want to be here, and by that time the relationship between Duquette and Showalter was already deteriorating. In the end, we got nothing, Duquette stayed, and both he and Showalter were gone four years later.
Ozuna is a known quantity to STL. A known clown with a baseball IQ of about 50.
This is why I think there is definitely truth to Carlos Martinez being involved in a trade. Without CMart and Ozuna the average maturity level of the team skyrockets.
They traded Larry to Tampa. Moe is undecided. That just leaves Shemp here. Now, as soon as the 3 Musketeers(Wainwright, Molina and Carpenter) call it a career, this team would be close to watchable again.
ridiculous
I know. This team has a bunch of ridiculous players and contracts.
Including Molina in that group is just downright foolish.
Dang it – bring back the downvote . I’ll happily watch Molina. , Waino and Carp for this year and possibly next with a smile on my face.
So will the opposing teams/fans…
Preach!
Exactly. There’s not a pitcher, hitter, or manager who care about Wainwright, Molina or Carpenter. This isn’t 2015. It’s 2020.
Apparently you care a little too much.
You are partially correct. I care a little.
Good possibility Ozuna is looking for work in June. Castallanos could be in that bucket too.
I don’t see the Cards as desperate for an outfielder.
Highly unlikely that Castallanos will be in that situation. Draft pick compensation is almost always what leads to a June signing, something Nick isn’t burdened with
No sir.
Draft pick compensation kills someone looking for a one year deal. Ozuna will be one of those if he isn’t already because he was looking for a five year deal.
If a team is going to sign a guy for four or more years they aren’t giving any thought to a draft pick.
He said that Castellanos probably will find a deal before June, not Ozuna.
Can you please tell me what the length of Kimbrel’s deal was?
So, you prefer boring white guys, over dark skin ones. The assumption being the white guys have a higher Baseball IQ?
Sounds like you’re assuming white guys are boring.
When is this BS going to stop?
Why don’t you wait for concrete evidence before making an accusation as opposed to looking like a complete imbecile when in reality, there’s no need to go down that road because in the end you come across as a whacked out pinko but I digress…
Carpenter and wainwright are dark skin guys? Wow it pays to read and not assume Mr social justice warrior.
We all have biases. We all stereotype. We all categorize. The goal is to avoid these prejudices whenever possible. It takes work, sometimes hard work, and everyone should point it out when it creeps into our vocabulary and thoughts. Sometimes it is innocent, often not. Not all cultures behave the same. When I read some of the above comments regarding Latino players I recognize this. Call me any name you choose. It matters not. It is ugly when observed, regardless of the degree.
Maybe Ozuna was called a clown for jumping a fence for a ball that was fell several feet short. Maybe the guy called him a clown without factoring in the color of his skin. That would mean the guy calling him a clown isn’t racist.
Now you on the other hand….
Maurice, if Ozuna is a known clown – how is it then, that he would not fit right in, with the community?
The clown show is/was Jose Martinez, Carlos Martinez, Ozuna and Bader. Right now, 50% of them are gone. I’m hoping the other 50% is gone soon. Then they just need to rid themselves of the old and tired players….and Wong.
Maurice – you sound like a 3rd grader who is mad that someone stole your crayons. Troll
Man, someone doesn’t like any players with personality.
Big difference between personality and clown show.
Sounds like it. Wong was probably the Cards best player last year
So they literally need to get rid of their entire roster to be watchable. Got it. I’m glad you aren’t letting your dislike of the Cardinals tint your ability to evaluate players. Lol.
If Wong is their best player, then they are f…ed.
He does run the bases well. He can hit homers and miss fly balls and cutoff men.
I see another trade for the cards don’t think it’s arenado maybe benninttini from Boston Bloom likes the pitcher they got from the Rays.
Cards aren’t going to trade Liberatore for Benintendi.
I keep seeing people bring up Benintendi. Am I missing something? Slightly below average fielder with a decent offensive game..
High ceiling.
Solid guy – hits from the left side, and he’s consistent.
He has a high ceiling as well
High ceiling. Is that the new code for, “potential?”
He has been consistent. Consistently average since his breakout rookie season.
Maurice is a clown – stop trolling
Payne, it’s obvious it PAYNES you when others don’t see things your way. When the word “troll” is used, it normally means you just have nothing else to counter the truth.
Troll
Ouch!
To be honest looking at his power, plate discipline, and OPS he’s getting worse.
When the word troll is used, it’s usually applied to a person that applies insults to a person, place, thing, etc. without providing anything of substance to a discussion of said person, place, thing, etc. This is one of those situations.
Very fascinating take…if you are a weak t.t p…y.
Arenado is not going anywhere. Not next year or the year after that. The opt-out will not be exercised and Arenado will remain a Rockie.
Ya he won’t stay with the Rockies. He wants to win. He would most likely opt out. Could end up moving to LA.
Why would Ozuna cost the cards a draft pick? They offered him the qualifying deal…
If Ozuna signs elsewhere I believe we receive a draft pick.
Castellanos and Ozuna are similar in WAR and cost, but Castellanos doesn’t have a draft pick tied to him.
bc if the Cards resigned Ozuna instead of him signing elsewhere, they would not receive that comp pick, essentially costing the cards a draft pick
I would love to see Ozuna “resign”.
The Rangers or Cardinals need to hurry up and sign Castellanos. He is the better bet compared to Ozuna.
No he is not. Ozuna is arguably better offensively and vastly superior defensely to Castellanos. Only reason Ozuna hasn’t signed is the draft pick compensation attached
Depends on who you believe is the real Castellanos – the one with the Tigers or the one with the Cubs.
Castellanos improved defensively from 2018 and has a way better arm than Ozuna, who’s defense is very overrated. I expect Castellanos to improve in his 3rd full year in the outfield. Offensively it’s a toss up. The difference is that QO Ozuna stupidly declined and Castellanos is younger.
Cards should definitely make a move for Castellanos. Bader would run down a lot of his fly balls. Plus Castellanos is both a better defender and hitter than Jose Martinez, and we were willing to watch him whiff on fly balls for the last 3 years due to his offensive production. Idk why the cards were willing to give Martinez a spot but refuse to look at a guy who is basically Martinez on steroids
The Cardinals seem to love their DH type players. I agree Castellanos is way better than Martinez in the field, but that really isn’t saying much. They don’t need to have two DH caliber players on the roster every year. One is maybe passable, but when you already have Carpenter signed, it just makes roster flexibility almost impossible.
There’s no DH in the NL and Carpenter and Castellanos won’t play the same position. Castellanos is a poor RF when it comes to range. His arm is fine. But it’s RF. It’s not the end of the world to not have a gold glove RF’er.
Carpenter should have no bearing on whether or not they get Castellanos. Carpenter might not even be a starter with Edman around…Either way you don’t let a sunk cost stop you from making another acquisition.
Carpenter can move around enough and pH to keep him in regularly. Castelanos could play Lf, some first and even some third but I’d rather trade for arrenado.Libertorie should stay with Gorman and see what they can do.
Nothing says, “WOW ” like a $20M pinch hitter/move around guy.
Bjup — Carp is a defensive liability no matter where they play him and his offense the past 3 years hasn’t been any better. He needs to learn to quit pulling the ball into the shift or his offense will continue to suffer. We need to trade him. Arenado or Springer or Lindor would all be a major improvement at 3B with Arenado being the best. A 7 time gold glove improvement. Any of these 3 would give the Cards the best infield in MLB on both defense and offense. They would make any pitchers look better. Imagine an infield with a total of over 120 HRs. Has there ever been one??
Brignac is the man
Too bad the Jays didn’t hire Duquette at the time instead of Shapiro!!
Cardinals were linked to many top free agents in the past few years…….the Fowler contract is make them stop of adding another not for sure contract……….Castellanos could be a mistake for a NL team.
Cards aren’t going to sign anyone. They know their toast and that’s why they are already trading for the future.
They traded a DH-limited player who hit .269/.340/.410 and finished with a -.3 bWAR/.3 fWAR last season. I’d hardly say they’re embracing a tank and trading away major pieces for the future.
Yea – going from winning a playoff series to toast . Your about as smart as a wet fart
Is a wet fart stupid?
Yes. After the fact you feel stupid for doing it.
Cards will probably win the central this year
The Rangers need a CF there has been talking they sign Ozuna or Castenelos they could trade Calhoun the cards Could use him
Seems easier for the Rangers to sign a defensive first CF, and have an outfield of Calhoun/Choo in left, put a Jarrod Dyson, or Cameron Maybin to man center, with Gallo in right field.
Cards would be smart to NOT sign either Ozuna or Castellanos and trade for Bryant (if the Cubs would do that). They could offer a package of Libatore, the draft pick they get for Ozuna and one of their younger prospects. That would be a tough package for the Cubs to turn down. If Chicago won’t do that, then offer something similar for Arenado.
While intra-divisional trades may not be as strictly off limits as they had been in the past, I still don’t see CHI trading Bryant to the Cardinals for anything less than an absolutely crazy over-pay by STL.
Dottie — not likely. The last trade between the Cubs and Cards left us with DL Fowler and that’s not a trade the Cards F.O. is proud of.
I don’t know if Dexters middle name begins with an “L” or not but the DL sure fits. He’s spent nearly a full season on the DL in the last 3 years.
I hope all the day dreaming over the Cards making some major moves to improve would be a high hill and a painful fall if none of it happens.
Imagine the uproar if the Cards were to add Arenado or Springer or Lindor at 3B to replace Carp and Castellanos to replace Ozuna in LF? The Cards offense would get a major injection and the team would get a lock on post season play and StL fans would go on a month long bender. Anheiser Busch stock would go up 15%.