Nick Castellanos Opts out of Final Three Years of Contract

As always, let’s talk details first.

Nick Castellanos has officially opted out of his contract and is a free agent.

And a deep disturbance was felt in the Force, almost like thousands of fans cried out in horror…

This is obviously a huge blow to the Cincinnati Reds, but it’s not a huge surprise. Nick Castellanos was nothing short of outstanding during his All-Star 2021 season. Over the course of the year, he had a slash line of .309/.362/.576 hitting a career high 34 home runs, good for 3.3 WAR. 

He was also very vocal about wanting to win. After his famous flex over Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford, Castellanos had this to say: "I'm not out here to disrespect nobody or whatever, but I want to win, yo. I've lost my whole career.”

I’ve lost my whole career. And in 2021, with the Reds missing out on the Wild Card, he lost again. 

So, let’s look at what’s probably going through the mind of Castellanos:

1. He can make more money on another team.

2. (More importantly) He has a better chance of winning on another team.

What a Guy

First off, hats off to Castellanos for being such a professional during the season. When reporters would ask about him opting out, he’d redirect and answer about how he’s focused on helping the team make the postseason. What an absolute professional. Also, while I’m disappointed about his decision to leave the team, it does seem to be the best move for him. He can certainly earn more money playing for a team that has a better shot of making the playoffs.  

Nick, if you’re reading this, please know that the Cincinnati fanbase does not hold this decision against you. We all understand and wish you the best of luck.

Also, please come back.

What Does this Mean for the Reds? 

Nothing good, unfortunately. 

Nick Castellanos opting out does more than weaken the 2022 Reds. It’s an indicator of what’s on the horizon for the Queen City. 

Let’s look at the facts:

1. Yesterday, after announcing the trade of Tucker Barnhart, Nick Krall, once again lacking PR poise, blamed the lack of financial resources as the reason for the trade. It’s highly likely we’ll see more highly paid players in different jerseys come Opening Day.

2. Pitching guru, Kyle Boddy, left the organization, citing that they were taking things in a different direction. 

3. Nick Krall, speaking of potential free agent activity, said, “It’s going to be more of a wait-and-see.” Oh boy, that sounds soooooo exciting…..

4. Nick Castellanos opts out of his contract. 

I’ve been predicting this for a while, but all the tea leaves are saying that the Reds are about to go into another rebuild. Don’t be fooled, Reds fans, how Bob Castellini and Nick Krall try to sell it to you. They’ll talk about investing in young guys, looking to the future, and all while whining about having their financial hands tied. They may not call it a rebuild, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.

It’s really a shame. The Reds were competitive over the last two seasons, and had ownership filled in the gaps, Cincinnati could have had a World Series contender. Instead, they chose to prioritize saving money over winning, purposely hurting a team that was almost there.

In closing, best of luck to you and your family, Nick Castellanos. You will always be a legend in the Queen City.