Cincinnati Reds: Adding Nicholas Castellanos does not necessitate a trade

The Cincinnati Reds are the frontrunners to sign Nicholas Castellanos. But, adding the outfielder doesn’t necessarily mean a trade is on the horizon.

The Cincinnati Reds are rumored to be the frontrunners for Nicholas Castellanos. Currently, the Reds outfield is stacked with players who’ll be battling for playing time. If Castellanos is added to the mix, a trade becomes more likely, but not necessary. Cincinnati has options beyond trading away some of their talented outfielders.

If Castellanos joins the Reds, playing time will be at a premium. Cincinnati already signed Shogo Akiyama to a three-year/$21M contract earlier this offseason. One can bet that Akiyama will be a regular in the Reds lineup, likely hitting at or near the top of the batting order.

But that’s not all. Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin, Aristides Aquino and Travis Jankowski are all on the 40-man roster as well. While the odds of Scott Schebler making the squad are very slim, he, along with Rule 5 Draftee Mark Payton will also be in spring camp with an eye towards making the Opening Day roster.

The Reds outfield is overcrowded already. If Cincinnati is fortunate enough to add Nicholas Castellanos, a trade becomes necessary, right? I wouldn’t go that far. While the chances of Cincinnati trading away one or more of their outfielders becomes more likely if Castellanos joins the team, it’s not a surefire bet. Let’s explore some options.

Option 1: Move Nick Senzel to the infield

Shogo Akiyama was primarily a centerfielder over in Japan, and a lot of fans and baseball experts predict he’ll do the same for Cincinnati. There’s little doubt Akiyama could play center field in the relatively small outfield of Great American Ball Park, but Nick Senzel might have something to say about that.

Last year, the Reds invested a lot of time and resources in helping shape the former No. 2 overall pick into a serviceable centerfielder. The 24-year-old was not an elite defender, but showed the wherewithal to be a competent outfielder. The move was made because Eugenio Suárez occupies Senzel’s natural position and the Reds wanted the rookie’s bat in the lineup.

Okay, no big deal. If Cincinnati wants to keep Senzel as the team’s primary centerfielder, then Akiyama can slide over to left field, right? After all, a lot of skilled centerfielders have switched to a corner outfield position over the years. An outfield comprised of Senzel (center), Akiyama (left) and Castellanos (right) sounds pretty good, right?

The problem is, that still leaves three very talented outfielders (Aristides Aquino, Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin) without a regular spot in the lineup. Perhaps the solution is moving Nick Senzel back to the infield. Senzel spent his entire college and professional career, until last season, on the infield dirt.

Whether the Reds decide to shuffle around the likes of Suárez or Mike Moustakas in order to find the best spot for all three players, there’s little doubt that all three could find a place to play. Could Senzel make the move to shortstop? Might the Reds entertain the idea of Geno returning to his previous position? It’s an idea worth exploring. For now, Freddy Galvis is the starting shortstop.

Option 3: Keep the overcrowded outfield intact

Strange as this idea may sound, it could actually work. No one among the Reds outfield is what you’d call a complete player. While one player may be a great defender, he may struggle with consistency at the plate. Where another player might rake against left-handers, he falls apart with a righty on the mound. Perhaps the Reds could keep six outfielders heading into 2020.

You can see the quandary the Cincinnati Reds may face if Castellanos signs. The Reds would have six talented outfielders vying for three spots. Of course injuries happen and the rosters are expanding from 25 to 26, but juggling the lineups so that every player finds an adequate amount of playing time will be a tough task for David Bell.

That said, one thing we learned about Bell after last year is that he loves the double-switch and finds a way for nearly every player to get onto the field in some capacity. A team typically carries five outfielders, but having that extra roster spot would enable Cincinnati to keep all six.

Given the recent injury history of Winker and Senzel, would it really be wise to count on one of those players to be available for an entire season? Over the past two seasons, Winker has totaled 619 at-bats, finishing 2018 and 2019 on the injured list. Senzel has seen his fair share of freak injuries over the past two seasons as well, including two bouts with vertigo.

Where Winker struggled against left-handers in 2019, Phillip Ervin absolutely dismantled them to the tune of .349/.411/.628 with 4 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs. Having a skilled hitter like Ervin, who can play all three outfield spots would be a fantastic option late in games.

When the games shift an American League park for interleague play, take your pick of who’d suit up as the Reds designated hitter. With the subpar defense of both Winker and Castellanos, either one would be a prime candidate, while Aquino could fill in admirably in right field.

A trade could be very likely if Nicholas Castellanos signs with the Cincinnati Reds. In fact, I think it’s the right move. A player like Jesse Winker could fetch the Reds a nice return, and Nick Senzel packaged with a prospect or two could land Cincinnati a rising star. However, just because the Reds sign Castellanos, doesn’t mean a trade is a must.