Why a Nick Castellanos Reunion Doesn’t Fit the Cubs’ Present - or Their Future
Back in 2019, Nick Castellanos gave Cubs fans a summer to remember. Acquired just before the trade deadline in a deal with the Tigers, he arrived in Chicago and immediately lit up the stat sheet - and Wrigley Field.
Over just 51 games, Castellanos turned in a scorching .321/.356/.646 slash line, racked up 1.7 bWAR, and mashed left-handed pitching like it was batting practice. He brought the kind of energy and offensive firepower that teams dream of adding at the deadline.
For a brief moment, he was exactly what the Cubs needed.
But that was then.
After his short, electric stint in Chicago, Castellanos hit free agency and landed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Reds. He played two seasons in Cincinnati before opting out and signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the Phillies - a deal that runs through 2026. However, with Philadelphia recently inking Adolis García to a one-year deal, the writing is on the wall: Castellanos’ time with the Phillies is coming to an end, and a new chapter is on the horizon.
Just don’t expect that chapter to be written in Chicago.
The Fit Just Isn’t There Anymore
There’s no denying what Castellanos once brought to the Cubs. But the current version of the player - and the current makeup of the Cubs - makes a reunion highly unlikely, and frankly, unwise.
First, there’s the defense. Castellanos has long struggled in the outfield, and last season didn’t help his case.
He’s become a near-liability with the glove, and for a team trying to build a roster with defensive flexibility and depth, that’s a tough sell. If you’re already uneasy about Seiya Suzuki’s defense in right field, Castellanos would only amplify those concerns.
Slotting him into the designated hitter role might seem like a solution, but that creates a logjam of its own. The Cubs have young talent knocking on the door - Owen Caissie, for one, is pushing for at-bats, and Moises Ballesteros is widely viewed as a future DH candidate. Bringing in Castellanos would block those opportunities and limit manager Craig Counsell’s ability to mix and match lineups, especially in a season where versatility could be one of the Cubs’ biggest strengths.
Bigger Picture: Cubs Aiming Higher
The Cubs are clearly in the market to make moves this offseason, with reported interest in Alex Bregman and a likely pursuit of starting pitching via trade. That means prospects could be on the move, and roster spots will be at a premium. Adding Castellanos - a declining bat with no defensive value and a hefty contract - doesn’t align with the team’s current trajectory.
This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about fit, flexibility, and future planning.
Castellanos gave Cubs fans a thrilling two-month stretch in 2019, but the team has evolved since then - and so has he. The version of Castellanos that once energized Wrigley is no longer the player on the market today.
Final Word
Nick Castellanos will likely find a new home this offseason. He can still hit, and there are teams that can afford to carry a bat-first player with limited defensive upside. But for a Cubs team that’s trying to balance a competitive present with a promising future, bringing him back just doesn’t make sense.
The memories are great. The fit? Not so much.