Detroit Tigers: Exploring Nicholas Castellanos Trade Scenarios

St. Louis Cardinals

The biggest question about the Cardinals is if they will actually choose to be buyers or not. They are currently 48-46 and buried in third place in the NL Central. If they do decide to go for it, Castellanos would help solve their right field problem this season.

Dexter Fowler has started 61 games for them in right field, but he has been unbelievably bad. He’s hitting an appalling .176 with seven home runs and three steals. He finally got benched, with rookie Harrison Bader taking over. The 24-year-old Bader has been solid, with a .272/.340/.413 line to go along with six home runs and nine steals.

Still, the Cardinals could use an upgrade and Castellanos would absolutely provide that. He could slot in right field, pushing Bader into a reserve role and allowing St. Louis to jettison Fowler.

If the Cardinals are buying, the Tigers should try to acquire Tyler O’Neill. The 23-year-old slugger is absolutely mashing at Triple-A, with 19 home runs and a .294/.356/.634 slash line in 52 games. O’Neill is a younger, more cost-controlled version of Castellanos, and would give the Tigers a player to partner with Daz Cameron and Christin Stewart in the team’s future outfield.

If O’Neill proves a bit too ambitious, second baseman Max Schrock would be another promising target. Schrock, 23, swings from the left side and is a high-quality defender at the keystone. He profiles as a high-contact hitter who could hit .300 with limited strikeouts. His power and speed are average, enough to project him as a regular big league starter.

Next: Exploring Michael Fulmer Trade Scenarios

The Detroit Tigers don’t need to deal Castellanos. With a limited number of teams needing outfield help, it’s more likely they’ll hold onto him and either try again to extend him or try to move him next year.