Cincinnati Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos has opted out of the final two years of his contract to become a free agent, sources confirmed to The Athletic. MLB Network was first to report the news.
Castellanos, who signed a four-year, $64 million contract ahead of the 2020 season, has two years and $34 million remaining on his deal. He had two opt-out clauses in his contract but did not exercise the first one following the 2020 season.
The Reds are expected to give Castellanos a qualifying offer, and they would receive draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. Castellanos, who will turn 30 on March 4, is ranked No. 11 on Keith Law’s list of 50 best MLB free agents this winter.
In 2021, Castellanos batted .309 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs while earning his first All-Star selection. The Reds went 83-79 in the 2021 campaign and finished third in the National League Central.
On Wednesday, Cincinnati traded catcher Tucker Barnhart to the Detroit Tigers. While discussing the trade with reporters, general manager Nick Krall signaled that the organization will focus on its farm system this offseason.
“Going into 2022, we must align our payroll to our resources and continue focusing on scouting and developing young talent from within our system,” Krall said.
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