Detroit Tigers: Let’s talk about Nicholas Castellanos

The Detroit Tigers are currently undergoing a long, hard rebuild and the future of one of the team’s few star players, Nicholas Castellanos, has been and still is uncertain.

The relationship between the Detroit Tigers organization and Nicholas Castellanos has seemed a bit strange and awkward for some time now. The tensions were seemingly pushed aside for a bit to begin 2019, but some comments made by Castellanos last week once again brought up the issue of his uncertain future in Detroit.

Pretty much ever since the Detroit Tigers committed to a full-scale rebuild, Castellanos has been one of the pieces always mentioned as on the trading block due to the possible high return he could yield. So far in 2019, the 27-year-old is not having a particularly outstanding year but still manages to be a major player in the Tigers’ struggling offense, batting .259 with 24 RBI.

Before this weekend’s series against the Cleveland Indians, which ended in a sweep, Castellanos made comments to reporters about the frustration he faces due to the uncertainty of his future.

According to Rod Beard of The Detroit News, Castellanos told reporters on Friday that it can be frustrating realizing that he is most likely not a part of Detroit’s plans for the future. Beard also writes that Castellanos said he has been open to talking about signing an extension with the team, but those kinds of talks are yet to happen.

Also in Beard’s article, Castellanos mentions that the organization’s claim that he turned down a possible extension in 2017 is false and that GM Al Avila has told him that offering extensions in the team’s current state are not really what the organization is looking to do. All in all, Castellanos closed out by saying essentially that he doesn’t see an extension being a real possibility anymore.

The Detroit Tigers and Castellanos did reach a deal this offseason to keep him on the team for one more year. However, that does mean that Castellanos is headed for free agency this coming offseason with the potential to make big money somewhere other than Detroit, especially with new superstar agent Scott Boras at his side.

Considering the situation, this really has to be the year where GM Al Avila follows through on a deal to send Castellanos elsewhere. Even with free agency on the horizon, he could serve as a valuable “rental” player for various teams looking to make a playoff push after the trade deadline and could yield a solid return in the form of prospects to add to the rebuild.

At this point in time, it really seems like moving on is the best way to go for both Castellanos and the Detroit Tigers organization. He is still a valuable trade asset which the organization has basically openly said is not a part of the team’s future, so acting now while they still have the chance is the only way to go.