Detroit Tigers: 10 Players Least Likely to be Traded

#2 Nick Castellanos

Age: 24
Position: Third Baseman
Controllable Through: 2019
2016 Stat of Note: 119 wRC+

It may seem like he’s been in the league for years, but Nick Castellanos is just 24. He’ll enter his fourth season as a Major League regular next year.

After hitting .257 and averaging 70 RBI, 46 runs scored, 32 doubles, 13 home runs and five triples per year in 2014 and 2015, Castellanos enjoyed a breakout year in 2016.

The third baseman’s campaign was limited by injury to just 110 games, but he set a career high with 18 home runs and 54 runs. Castellanos also contributed 58 RBI, 25 doubles, four triples and a stolen base.

Why the Detroit Tigers Won’t Trade Castellanos

Along with Miguel Cabrera, Nick Castellanos is the future of the Detroit Tigers lineup—at least where current starters are concerned. Christin Stewart will eventually bat in the middle of the order, but the team could stand to lose a number of impact bats over the coming seasons.

J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez could all conceivably leave via free agency or retire in the next handful of years.

The Tigers will need Castellanos to help do the heavy lifting in future years.