According to someone familiar with the negotiations, Nick Castellanos, a free-agent slugger, and the Philadelphia Phillies have reached an agreement to a $100million, five-year contract.
Because the deal was subjected to a successful physical, the person spoke under anonymity on Saturday morning.
The Phillies made their second major free-agent signing this week, as they are bolstering their roster to contend with the Mets and Braves in the NL East. Kyle Schwarber, who also had a successful physical Wednesday, agreed Wednesday to a 4-year contract that was worth approximately $80 million.
Castellanos slugged.309 last year with 34 homers, 100 RBIs, and a.939 OPS for the Cincinnati Reds. He was named to his first All-Star team, and won a Silver Slugger Award. Castellanos is a career hitter at.278 with 168 homers, 594 RBIs, and a.814 OPS during nine major league seasons with Reds, Tigers, and Cubs.
Castellanos, a corner outfielder with a suspect hand, joins Bryce Harper, the reigning NL MVP, in the middle of a Phillies lineup which also includes All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Harper recently called on the Phillies to sign a left-fielder. He said it would be a “downer” if they didn’t sign Kris Bryant, Schwarber, or Castellanos.
Nicky, I love Nicky as a player and a great left fielder. Harper stated that he would make a great middle-of the-order bat for us.
Bryant was the only one that the Phillies weren’t able to lure after he signed a $182 million seven-year contract with Colorado.
Last season, the Phillies won 82-80. This was their first win record since 2011. However, it extended their drought in the postseason to an NL-worst ten years.
Harper stated Monday that there are “definitely a few guys out there that many guys in this clubhouse would love to see come in to kind of give us an impression of, we’re all here to win it”
“We need someone who will give us the best chance of winning. You can win every night if you have a player of that caliber.
Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations for the Phillies, was also president and general manager of Detroit’s Tigers team when they drafted Castellanos. He made his debut with Detroit in 2013.
Castellanos decided to opt out of the Cincinnati contract for Castellanos’ last two years. He would have received $34 million. The Reds offered Castellanos a $18.4million qualifying offer, but he declined it. Cincinnati will now receive a high draft selection this year in compensation for Castellanos’s departure as a free agent.
The Phillies signed Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand, free-agent relievers, to a one year deal worth $6 million since the end of the Major League Baseball lockout. Odubel Herrera, an outfielder, was also signed to a one year contract.
The Phillies signed Corey Knebel as their closer before the lockout.
The Phillies also made a move Friday, losing right-hander Yoan Lopez when he was claimed by the Miami Marlins off waivers.
