The Cleveland Guardians did not make any significant moves to upgrade their offense this offseason, but they could still look to improve it during spring training, especially if they don’t like how the projected lineup is coming together. Though there may not be much to choose from on the market at this point, one potential option recently became available.
After some lingering controversy, the Philadelphia Phillies parted with outfielder Nick Castellanos on the eve of their camp. A relationship that soured during last season could not be repaired, and the potential DH is free to join any MLB team at the league minimum salary.
That could make Castellanos very attractive to a budget-conscious team like the Guardians, but insider Paul Hoynes questions whether they should pursue the troubled player, based on his ugly breakup with the Phillies that included taking a beer into the dugout.
“Cleveland.com beat writer Paul Hoynes laid out an explosive incident from last season that may have led to Castellanos’ release in vivid detail: ‘He went to the clubhouse, grabbed a beer and came back into the dugout and sat down. Then he got into a confrontation with the coaching staff. He sat down next to the manager, Rob Thompson, and gave him an earful and told him what he thought of him,'” the outlet wrote.
Coming off a season when two of their pitchers were banned because of an MLB gambling investigation, the Guardians might just steer clear of Castellanos, no matter what he might be able to do for their offense. Last season, he hit 17 home runs with 72 RBIs as the Phillies’ regular right fielder, which was a second straight season of declining numbers after posting 29 homers and 106 RBIs in 2023.
“It all depends on the needs of the ball club. Would they go out tomorrow and sign Castellanos? I don’t think so. But let’s say he’s still out there at the deadline and they really need some offense. Maybe they would take a look at that,” Hoynes said.
Castellanos would be an inexpensive option, as the Phillies remain responsible for almost all of his $20 million salary for this season, based on his release. After Philadelphia failed to find a trade partner, the team that signs him will be responsible for only about $800,000.
The Guardians may not only want to avoid any controversy, but also may like to keep their outfield and DH spots clear to accommodate prospects Chase DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus and George Valera. Big things are expected from DeLauter, in particular, after he made his MLB debut during last year’s postseason.
Despite some on-field potential, Castellanos does not seem to fit the Guardians off the field as well as the team or its fans might like.
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