MLB Rumors: One Team In, One Team Out on Nick Castellanos

 

Nick Castellanos established himself as a major offensive force and a team leader with his impressive 2021 season with the Cincinnati Reds. He'll be looking to capitalize on that in a BIG way once the lockout is done. He is represented by Scott Boras, after all. 

The free agent slugger is said to be looking for a contract in the 7- or 8-year range. Considering he opted out of the final two years of his existing deal in Cincinnati that would have paid him $17M per, and that Boras is pulling the strings, expect him to be looking for somewhere in the range of about $20M a year. Even if the 29-year-old was being reasonable and looking for a 5-year deal, that's $100M. Over the course of 7 or 8 years, you're looking at $150M. 

Numbers like that have apparently got the San Diego Padres—who were hot on his trail before the lockout—thinking twice about it. Dennis Lin has reported in The Athletic this week that "I haven’t gotten the sense that the Padres are (still) terribly high on Castellanos, especially if he requires at least five years and more than $20 million annually."

The Miami Marlins, however, are still very interested, and Castellanos himself, a South Florida native, has said he "would welcome" going back home, but is in no mood to give a hometown discount—as you'd expect from any Scott Boras client—saying, "only if the terms were right.” 

Are the Fish ready to shell out that kind of bait? It remains to be seen.

Photo Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC