Around Major League Baseball, it’s difficult to find a perfect landing spot for Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos.
Castellanos hasn’t done enough on either side of the baseball over the past few seasons to suggest he still belongs on a contending roster like Philadelphia’s, but there are teams around the league that could be intrigued by what he once was.
At his peak, Castellanos was one of the more above-average right-handed hitters in baseball. While he always had defensive limitations, teams were willing to live with them when his bat was producing.
While it may not make much sense to trade for him, not everyone agrees. Henry Palattella of FanSided recently suggested the Cleveland Guardians as a team that should at least take a look.
“On Monday, the Phillies inked outfielder Adolis García to a one-year, $10 million deal that all but confirms that Nick Castellanos’ time with the Phillies has come to an end. While the Phillies’ haven’t been shy about their intentions of wanting to trade Castellanos, bringing García into the fold means that there’s no room on the roster for Castellanos...
“The move also removes what little leverage the Phillies had when it comes to trade talks around Castellanos, meaning that he’ll be available for even more of a minimal cost, which should intrigue the Guardians,” he wrote.
That said, Castellanos joining the Guardians would run counter to Cleveland’s recent approach.
The Guardians have prioritized hitters who put the ball in play and create offense through contact.
Castellanos is more of a power-first hitter when he connects, and his game also comes with a significant amount of swing-and-miss.
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