Nicholas Castellanos signs with the Reds

At this late stage of baseball’s offseason, and with the Cubs having made virtually no moves at all, this news should not surprise you:

Given what’s been said about the Cubs payroll this winter, you didn’t really expect Nicholas Castellanos to come back, did you?

We’ll see him quite a bit this summer as a N.L. Central rival.

Castellanos had a great two months in a Cubs uniform. He hit .321/.356/.646 (68-for-212) with 21 doubles and 16 home runs in just 51 games, nearly singlehandedly carrying the Cubs offense. For that, and his enthusiastic attitude, we’ll always be grateful even though it didn’t bring the Cubs to the 2019 postseason.

What’s even more interesting about this signing is that the Reds now seem overloaded with outfielders. Shogo Akiyama, Aristides Aquino, Phillip Ervin, Scott Schebler, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker and Castellanos would all figure to get playing time and there likely isn’t enough for six guys like that (and they also acquired Travis Jankowski this winter).

Think Senzel might be available in trade? He’d look pretty good in the Cubs outfield and he’s still a minimum-salary guy. Just a thought.

Anyway, again, thanks for the memories, Nick. Good luck in Cincinnati (but not against the Cubs).