Detroit Tigers Rumors: Possible landing spots for Nicholas Castellanos
![DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 01: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park on August 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Reds 7-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2c030b118a870291c9e02da80e60681edd1a50cbb1f19408ee37060171b56764.jpg)
![DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 01: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park on August 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Reds 7-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/572b61040f81b4899ead845cc738d60141be75e7ed53b0ed3f7a5f523a8315ac.jpg)
If Detroit Tigers fans haven’t been through enough in the recent seasons, the Hot Stove season could turn out to be another slap in the face as Detroit Tigers rumors mention the team’s best hitter.
If the front office has its way, only one player from the Mike Ilitch and Dave Dombrowski era of the Detroit Tigers will be left in 2019. That player is Miguel Cabrera. It’s safe to bet that if Al Avila and Chris Ilitch could something of value for Cabrera, he’d be gone, too.
During Day One of the Winter Meetings, Nicholas Castellanos became the topic of conversation in Tigers rumors. According to Jon Morosi, teams like the Braves have inquired about the third-baseman-turned-right-fielder:
Sources: #Tigers OF Nick Castellanos is drawing trade interest. #Braves are among the teams that have checked in. Castellanos, 26, is coming off a career offensive year and is an alternative to Brantley and Pollock via free agency. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 10, 2018
Anthony Fenech with the Detroit Free Press wrote about Castellanos:
“He is one season away from hitting the free agent market, and the Tigers are determined to move on, not because of dollars, but sense.”
Castellanos will hit the free agent market at the end of the 2019 season, which means that if the Tigers want to keep him, they will have to pay him. He’s a home-grown player and still young. After a cup of coffee in 2013, he played 148 games in the 2014 season at age 22. He’ll be 27 at the start of the 2019 season.
The Tigers paid him $6 million in 2018 and he produced, especially at the plate. In both 2017 and 2018, he played 158 games. In 2017, he led the AL with 10 triples. In 2018, he hit a slash of .298/.354/.500 with 23 home runs and 89 RBI.
In 2017, he made the transition from third base to right field after the Tigers traded J.D. Martinez. Castellanos was terrible at third base with 18 errors in 2017 alone. He’s not great in right field, either. His defensive WAR in 2018 was a sad -2.4. But, his offensive numbers were so good that he finished 2018 with a WAR of 2.9.
With departure of nearly every veteran player except Cabrera, Castellanos became a fan favorite in 2018. Even if he couldn’t make the big plays in the outfield, his bat and his sense of humor endeared him to fans. If he leaves, 2019 will be a difficult season for fans in the seats at Comerica Park.
Teams that are looking at him could put him in right field, but he might be better at first base or as a full-time designated hitter. Let’s see where he could possible land.
![DETROIT, MI – JULY 07: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers runs across the field during the game against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park on July 7, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Rangers 7-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/cf2b8f7ba1131061c9842e63469bea5710a31e56183dd3d8d37c9d348c1b4fd3.jpg)
Jon Morosi Tweeted about the Braves checking in on Castellanos. While he seems more like an AL player, with his tendency towards being a DH, he would fit with a few NL teams.
The Braves need a right fielder. At the moment, Adam Duvall is penciled in as the right fielder. Duvall was sent to the Braves in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds at the July deadline. The Reds got Preston Tucker, Lucas Sims, and Matt Wisler. With the Braves, Duvall hit .132/.193/.151 in 53 at-bats.
As the Braves are one of the NL East teams that is in the fight for the top, Castellanos could certainly help them at the plate. He would be an offensive upgrade, even if he was a bit of a wash in the field.
Over the years, there were talks of Castellanos eventually taking Cabrera’s spot at first base with the Tigers. But, Cabrera doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. It is doubtful that the Braves would want him at first, either as Freddie Freeman does just fine at that position.
There are also rumors tying the Braves to Carlos Gonzalez, Andrew McCutchen, and Nick Markakis, according to Gabriel Burns with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It appears the Braves are checking out all possible choices, as Michael Brantley and AJ Pollock have also been rumored to be of interest.
I’ve watched Castellanos play since 2013 and am honestly having difficulty imagining him in anything but the Old English D. While I appreciate his ability at the plate, all the other rumored players are better in the field and rather adept with their bats, too.
However, of qualifying right fielders, Castellanos’ batting average and slugging percentages were second only to Mookie Betts. But, defensively, the other players had better numbers.
![DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 16: Right fielder Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers catches a fly ball hit by Yolmer Sanchez of the Chicago White Sox for an out during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on September 16, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/7d5e346344fb776a58461a48474bcf9da3d40a97adb00bf681b498366634b008.jpg)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have found themselves without a first baseman after trading Paul Goldschmidt just a few days ago, making them another NL team could use a kid who can hit and play first base.
On their official MLB site, the D-backs have Christian Walker penciled in as their only first baseman. He hit .163/.226/.388 in 49 at-bats in 2018.
While there aren’t any rumors linking Castellanos to the Diamondbacks, he would fit in nicely there. He’s the perfect size for first base at 6’4, 203 pounds. Even though he hasn’t played first base, he’s a professional baseball player and could make the transition.
Losing Goldy was and will be painful for Diamondbacks fans. Acquiring an experienced young player like Castellanos would help the fans heal. While quick-witted Castellanos is rather different from the quiet Goldschmidt, his sense of humor would be quickly appreciated.
The best way to get a feel for what Castellanos is like outside of the lines is to listen to his podcast with Shane Greene. The 619 by MLB.com is an unfiltered look inside professional baseball. The 61 is Shane Greene and the 9 is Castellanos.
Castellanos would be a fine replacement for Goldschmidt. The pair had similar numbers in 2018 with Goldy batting .290/.389/.533. His OPS+ was 139, while Castellanos had an OPS+ of 130. He might be Goldschmidt, but D-backs fans would get used to him very quickly.
![DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 01: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers looks on from the dugout and blows a bubble during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Comerica Park on August 1, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Reds 7-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/1996c76879f23864c145fa79064667f0b7e800a1eee4805b6cbbaf9c5e8752c6.jpg)
With all the moves that the New York Mets have been making lately, they still have a hole at first base.
Their current depth chart lists Robinson Cano and Dominic Smith at first base. Cano is a second baseman by trade. And, Smith doesn’t have much at the plate. He hit .224/.255/.420 with a below-average OPS+ of 87.
If the Mets want to improve their team, Castellanos could be the guy to do it. Smith has two seasons in the MLB and at age 23, he’s got more to prove. He can also play left field.
Castellanos could be the big bat that Mets desperately need. Yoenis Cespedes will be out for a while. No one is quite sure what 36-year-old Cano will do after coming off of his PED suspension in 2018.
The NL East has been the most exciting division in the Hot Stove season. The team has spent big bucks acquiring Cano and was able to get Edwin Diaz in the deal. They’ve also got the reigning Cy Young winner, Jacob deGrom. Nick Castellanos could provide run support to two of the best starting pitchers in the game today, deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.
There haven’t been any rumors linking the Mets to Castellanos, but the move makes some sense. The Mets have a bit of a farm system, moreso than the D-backs. So, they could offer something to the Tigers in an exchange. They could possibly even make a trade that includes one of their young outfielders.
![HOUSTON, TX – JULY 14: Detroit Tigers right fielder Nicholas Castellanos (9) watches the pitch during the baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros on July 14, 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/0f8c3bfd97b01ba531d080517453a180a3f52984a323909141b5eafa9b2644b1.jpg)
While the Orioles need nearly everything, they don’t have anything that the Tigers would be interested in acquiring. But, the Tampa Bay Rays could be another story altogether.
The Rays are an interesting team, simply because of their penchant for making unexpected trades. One of the most interesting is their rumored interest in Nelson Cruz as DH. According to several sources including Marc Topkin with the Tampa Bay Times, Cruz’s agent said he would be “a perfect fit.”
That signing would take care of the designated hitter position, but there are still a few holes that Castellanos could fill. In 2018, C.J. Cron manned first base, but the team released him and the Twins picked him up off of waivers. This leaves Ji-Man Choi and Jake Bauers as potential first baseman in 2019. Right-field also lacks depth with only Austin Meadows listed in the depth chart.
But, Meadows wasn’t too bad in right field or at the plate. He hit .287/.325/.461 in 59 games. Bauers – on the other hand – only hit .201/.316/.384. And Choi’s numbers in 49 games were .269/.370/.506.
Castellanos would be an upgrade at either first or right. If he were to play regularly at Tropicana Field, there is little doubt that his home run numbers would increase at the indoor stadium. He regularly hits his home runs to right-center. The Trop has a slightly longer right-field wall than the one at Comerica Park, but the distance to center is much shorter.
He would be an interesting addition to the Rays, even if it’s only for a year or two.
![TORONTO, ON – JULY 1: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates their victory with Jeimer Candelario #46 during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/w_480/shape/cover/sport/6bb1bf7fa9c881803283f4315f73ade9d4c8e12f0e89e41ed702351c4155d52e.jpg)
During a conversation with MLB Network personalities on Monday in Las Vegas, Rockies GM Jeff Bridich shared that he spoke with the D-backs about a trade for Goldschmidt.
He also shared that he was interested in Carlos Santana for first base, but the Mariners landed him instead.
It’s clear that the Rockies are looking to upgrade at first. They also have a hole in right field with Carlos Gonzalez on the free-agent market – again. Ian Desmond is the current first baseman. Castellanos would be an upgrade as Desmond hit .236/.307/.422 in 2019.
More from Detroit Tigers
- MLB trade deadline: Phillies make trade with Detroit Tigers for Michael Lorenzen
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Detroit Tigers, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers
- Grading Scott Harris and the Detroit Tigers front office at the season’s midway point
- Is mediocre good enough in the AL Central?
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Braves, Dodgers, Tigers and more
Desmond is signed through 2021 with a team option in 2022. Despite playing first for the Rockies, he was a shortstop and outfielder with the Nationals and Rangers. The Rockies could turn him into their version of Marwin Gonzalez and use him as a super utility player.
Coors Field has a massive outfield, like Comerica Park. In fact, right field in Colorado is bigger than the one in Detroit. It might be too big for Castellanos to patrol, simple in terms of square footage. But, his hitting prowess would be amplified in the altitude.
Could he land in Colorado? They clearly want a hitter for first base. There aren’t many available in free agency who hit like Castellanos does. There also aren’t any who are as young as he is, either. Of course, if he were to sign with any of the NL teams, there aren’t many opportunities to be a DH.
dark. Next. Ranking the five best MLB logo designs
If I could have it my way, he’d stay in Detroit and become the face of the team along with Miguel Cabrera. As Cabrera’s health continues to decline, Castellanos could be his replacement at first. It’s clear that Castellanos has learned how to hit from the future Hall of Famer. It’s too bad that the Tigers are ready to let go one of the few remaining reasons to buy a ticket to Comerica Park, per Tigers rumors