It’s been a productive offseason for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers, and a pair of typically low-spending teams could soon add another multi-time All-Star on the cheap.
In most years, the offseason can be a frustrating time for Pirates fans. The franchise is considered a small-market club because owner Bob Nutting has shown that he would prefer to accept revenue-sharing income rather than spend it to improve his team. However, this offseason has seen a major deviation from the norm.
In an effort to maximize the immense talent of their veteran Paul Skanes while they could still afford him, Pittsburgh traded for All-Star Brandon Lowe and intriguing prospect Jhostinkson Garcia. They also signed veteran sluggers Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O’Hearn.
The Tigers are in a similar situation, looking to make the most of AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal’s final year in Detroit before he leaves in free agency. That’s why they made some interesting moves this month when they added to the rotation by signing two-time All-Star Framber Valdez and reunited with club legend Justin Verlander.
Nick Castellanos Stats: .250 AVG, .294 OBP, .400 SLG, .694 OPS, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 72 RBI
However, the door has opened to adding another multi-time All-Star before the 2026 MLB season. This week, Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski confirmed that two-time All-Star Nick Castellanos’ tenure with the team will end within the week. Be it in any business or after releasing him.
If the Pirates or Tigers are willing to be patient, there’s a real chance Philly will eat the $20 million remaining on his deal and cut him. This means that they can get it at a very cheap rate. While Castellanos’ right-side defense isn’t great, he is a proven batter who has hit 20 or more homers six times in his career, including 34 in 2021.
For a low cost, it would be worth it for any team to take a flyer on Castellanos if he is cut by the Phillies in the coming days.
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