The Cincinnati Reds Sign OF Nick Castellanos

The Cincinnati Reds have signed outfielder Nick Castellanos to a 4-year contract a source told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon on Monday. The club has not confirmed the agreement.

Cincinnati’s current outfield projection includes Nick Senzel in center field, with free-agent addition Shogo Akiyama, Jesse Winker, Aristides Aquino and perhaps Phillip Ervin available for the other spots. Castellanos finished the 2019 season with an extraordinary two-month stretch for the Cubs. He produced a 1.002 OPS with 16 home runs in 51 games for Chicago following a Trade Deadline move from Detroit.

This move only strengthens the Reds even more while the Cubs have now lost another key cog from the end of last season. The Cincinnati Reds have made big strides towards improving themselves for the 2020 season and even look to be headed into the 2020 season as the favorites in the National League Central division.