Nick Castellanos was one of the 14 players who was issued a one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer, a formality for the top free agents.
One day after the Cincinnati Reds extended a qualifying offer to Castellanos, he declined it, a source with knowledge of the decision told The Enquirer.
Castellanos opted out of the final two years of his contract last week. He was guaranteed $34 million over the next two seasons when he opted out, but he could command a contract above $20 million per year on the free-agent market.
The 29-year-old right fielder is expected to have a strong list of suitors, including teams trying to jump out of rebuilds like the Texas Rangers, Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies. He's one of the premier hitters available and he’s coming off the best statistical season of his career. Even if teams have concerns about his outfield defense, a universal designated hitter is expected to be implemented next season.
As a part of the qualifying offer, the Reds will receive draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. If he signs a contract for more than $50 million, the Reds will receive a pick after the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. If he signs for under $50 million, a short-term deal, the draft pick will land after the Competitive Balance B round and before the third round.
The Reds issued a qualifying offer to Trevor Bauer last winter, which he promptly declined, and they never entered negotiations to re-sign him. After Bauer signed a three-year, $102 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Reds received the No. 30 pick in the 2021 draft and took high school outfielder Jay Allen, a player who is now ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the organization by MLB.com.
Castellanos, represented by agent Scott Boras, must announce he’s declining the qualifying offer by Nov. 17. The team who signs him will forfeit a draft pick. Since the introduction of the qualifying offer in 2012, only 10 of 96 players have accepted it.
The Reds, who already traded catcher Tucker Barnhart and placed left-hander Wade Miley on waivers, aren’t expected to be a contender to sign Castellanos. General Manager Nick Krall said after the two transactions last week the team is “aligning payroll with our resources.”
Former Reds closer Raisel Iglesias was one of the other 13 players who received a qualifying offer. If he accepted the one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer from the Los Angeles Angels, it’d be a record salary for a free-agent reliever, but he’s expected to pursue a multi-year deal.
The full list of players who received a qualifying offer: Brandon Belt (San Francisco), Castellanos, Michael Conforto (New York Mets), Carlos Correa (Houston), Freddie Freeman (Atlanta), Iglesias, Robbie Ray (Toronto), Eduardo Rodriguez (Boston), Corey Seager (Dodgers), Marcus Semien (Toronto), Trevor Story (Colorado), Noah Syndergaard (Mets), Chris Taylor (Dodgers) and Justin Verlander (Houston).
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAFF: The Reds announced Jeremy Farrell was hired as the director of player development and Casey Weathers was promoted to minor league pitching coordinator Monday.
Farrell, the son of former Red Sox manager John Farrell, spent the last six seasons in the Chicago Cubs' player development department as a hitting coach, infield coordinator, field coordinator and director of baseball development. He replaces Eric Lee, who left the organization in July to become the athletic director of Green Farms Academy in Connecticut.
Weathers was the organization's rehab coach in 2020 and '21. The Reds have pitching coach Derek Johnson as their director of pitching with Bryan Conger and Weathers as their co-pitching coordinators. Weathers pitched at Vanderbilt and had Johnson as his college pitching coach.
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