There’s been a bit of a shuffle - or at least a clarification - at the top of the Cincinnati Reds’ ownership structure, and it involves a familiar name: Castellini. Phil Castellini, who was named team president and CEO back in the summer of 2024, has now officially been recognized by Major League Baseball as the controlling owner of the franchise, taking over that role from his father, Bob Castellini. That confirmation came straight from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred during a press conference this week.
But if you’re a Reds fan wondering what this actually means for the team - well, you’re not alone. The messaging from the organization over the past couple of years has been murky at best.
Let’s rewind for a second. When the Reds first announced the leadership shakeup in 2024, the team stated that Phil Castellini had been promoted to President and CEO, while Doug Healy moved up to Chief Operating Officer and retained his title as Chief Financial Officer.
At the same time, Bob Castellini - the longtime face of Reds ownership - was said to still retain full control over both business and baseball operations. In that setup, Phil, Healy, and President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall all reported directly to Bob.
In other words, the titles changed, but the power dynamic? Not so much - at least according to the Reds’ own statement at the time.
Fast forward to now, and MLB has officially approved Phil as the controlling owner, a designation that carries real weight in league governance. That role typically means the person is the primary decision-maker and the one who represents the team in league matters. It’s not just a ceremonial title - it’s the top of the food chain.
So, what gives?
The Reds are now saying this latest development is simply part of the league’s protocol - essentially, MLB is just rubber-stamping the changes the team announced back in 2024. But that raises a fair question: If Phil was already functioning as president and CEO while still reporting to Bob, how does that square with being the controlling owner now? Can someone be the controlling owner and still report to someone else in the organization?
That’s where the confusion lies. The team’s own media guide from last season still listed Bob Castellini as the principal owner and managing partner - the top spot in the ownership hierarchy - followed by other ownership figures like W.
Joseph Williams Jr. and Thomas L. Williams, with Phil Castellini listed further down as president and CEO.
Now, with MLB saying Phil is the guy in charge, it suggests a shift in authority - even if the Reds haven’t explicitly said so.
It’s also worth noting that Bob Castellini is 84 years old. While there’s been no official word about his health or day-to-day involvement, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a transition of power to the next generation. That’s a natural progression in any business, and especially in family-owned sports franchises where succession planning often plays out gradually and behind the scenes.
At the end of the day, someone named Castellini is still calling the shots in Cincinnati. But whether it’s Bob or Phil officially steering the ship - or if there’s still some shared control behind closed doors - remains a bit of a gray area.
What’s clear now is that MLB sees Phil as the point person. Whether that translates to any meaningful changes on the field or in the front office remains to be seen.
For now, fans will have to keep an eye not just on the Reds’ roster this spring, but on the evolving power structure in the owner’s box.