Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies reportedly agree to five-year, $100 million deal
The Philadelphia Phillies and free-agent outfielder Nick Castellanos - who played the past two seasons for the Cincinnati Reds and was an All-Star last season - agreed to a five-year, $100-million deal, according to multiple reports Friday night.
Earlier this week, the Phillies agreed to terms on a four-year deal with former Middletown High School standout Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber and Castellanos were teammates with the Chicago Cubs for part of the 2019 season.
Last week, The Enquirer's Bobby Nightengale wrote that Reds general manager Nick Krall said Cincinnati had not been in talks with Castellanos, the first Reds player to win a Silver Slugger Award since Jay Bruce in 2013.
Earlier this month, C.C. Sabathia, Derek Jeter's New York Yankees teammate from 2009 to 2014, said the former Miami Marlins CEO "did everything he could" to encourage the team to sign Castellanos, who grew up in South Florida and was in negotiations with the Marlins before the MLB lockout.
Social media reactions:
Bryce Harper was a big factor in Phillies recruitment and signing of Castellanos. Phillies president Dave Dombrowski had Castellanos in Detroit and has now remade their lineup.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 19, 2022
Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos & Kyle Schwarber each hit 30+ homers in 2021
The last time the Phillies had multiple players with 30+ HR in a season was in 2009, when they had a franchise-record 4:
Ryan Howard
Raúl Ibañez
Chase Utley
Jayson Werth— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 19, 2022
For the second time this week, #Phillies add one of free agency's top hittershttps://t.co/50Uhxzzdap pic.twitter.com/98Lyrb9u4U
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) March 19, 2022
Signing Castellanos would create more defensive issues for #Phillies. But they're too far down that rabbit hole already
This would give Joe Girardi these options:
Castellanos at DH/LF/RF/3B
Schwarber at LF/DH
Hoskins at 1B/DH
Bohm at 3B/1B/DH
Castellanos to RF when Harper DHs— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 18, 2022
🔔🧀🥩
— Ryan Castellanos (@ryan_cast_) March 19, 2022
Baseball is life. Life is extended family. Where our thread weaves us together we are family 😍
— Michelle Castellanos (@michcast05) March 19, 2022
Welcome to Philly, Nick Castellanos! 👏🙌 pic.twitter.com/HCREvwDGVW
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) March 19, 2022
This lineup the Phillies are building 💪
Nick Castellanos has reportedly agreed to a deal with Philadelphia, per @MLBNetwork insider @Joelsherman1. pic.twitter.com/261fWZhTAJ— MLB (@MLB) March 19, 2022
In some ways Kris Bryant fit Philly best. But as it turned out, they got both Schwarber and Castellanos for less than Bryant received by himself — $179M to $182M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 19, 2022
MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweeted last month that he wondered whether the Marlins would be able to afford Castellanos given the news that Jeter stepped down.
Castellanos opted out of the final two years of his contract and rejected a one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer from the Reds. He was guaranteed $34M over the next two seasons when he opted out.
"I kind of advised all of you like two years ago, St. Nick was going to bring a lot of presents," agent Scott Boras said of his client in November. "And frankly, we're just going to sit back and see what teams have been naughty and nice."
Castellanos hit .309 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2021. Asked if he would entertain an offer from the Reds, Castellanos said, "Of course I would. Why wouldn't I? I feel like there's still a lot of valuable pieces that are very good to win with."
Castellanos was one of 14 players issued a one-year, $18.4M qualifying offer, a formality for top free agents.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reactions: Castellanos, Phillies reportedly agree to five-year deal
