Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds' star outfielder, has exercised his opt-out clause and will be a free agent in the offseason according to a source who spoke with ESPN's Buster Olney.
According to reports, Castellanos informed Reds about his decision Thursday. He had opted out of the last two years and $34 Million of his contract.
Castellanos was granted two opt-out clauses under his $64 million four-year deal. However, he didn't exercise the first after the 2020 season due to the pandemic. If Castellanos signs with another organization, the Reds will likely extend Castellanos the $18.4million qualifying offer. This would give Cincinnati a compensatory 2022 draft selection.
Castellanos' decision comes just one day after Nick Krall, Reds general manager, stated that the Reds "must align their payroll to our resources" and continue to focus on developing young talent within our organization.
Krall stated to reporters that he expected the Reds to adopt a wait-and-see approach to free agency in this offseason, despite having a payroll of $130 million in 2021.
Krall stated that he doesn't believe we won't sign players on free-agent markets after Wednesday's deal of Tucker Barnhart, a veteran catcher, to the Detroit Tigers. "I believe it's something that this decision did not make sense given where we were at payroll. We had to ensure that we made the adjustment.
Castellanos acknowledged that there is uncertainty about the future labor negotiations and the new collective bargaining agreement for Major League Baseball. However, Castellanos stated last month that the 2021 season was the "most consistent, happy, and fulfilling" season of his playing career.
Castellanos, 29 years old, will be eligible for free agency after one of his best seasons in nine years. He was a first-time All-Star in 2021 and batted.309 with 34 runs and a.939 op -- career highs -- and led the Reds with 100 RBIs.
Castellanos was a first-round draft selection in 2010, and he spent most of his career with the Tigers. He will be one of the top hitters in a free agent class that also includes Kris Bryant and Freddie Freeman, former MVPs Freddie Freeman, and Starling Marte, MLB stolen bases leader Starling Martel, and star shortstops Carlos Correa and Trevor Story, Marcus Semien, Javier Baez, and Trevor Story.
Castellanos is a career.278 hitter who has 168 homers over nine seasons with the Reds. Tigers. and Cubs.
