3 ways the Cincinnati Reds could surprise the fanbase this offseason

2. Reds shockingly re-sign Nick Castellanos.

Surprised?! Don't be. While it may seem like a long shot, I'm still not ready to give up on the idea of the Cincinnati Reds re-signing Nick Castellanos. This all boils down to money. Are the Reds willing to offer the type of contract it's going to take to keep Castellanos in the Queen City?

Look, if Castellanos' market was as hot as some have assumed it to be, he'd be signed already. The slugger has been rumored to be seeking a seven-to-eight year contract, and I think a lot of teams are leery to dole out that much cash to a player who hit .260 on the road versus .359 at home.

Those stats matter. Of the 34 home runs Castellanos launched last season, 23 came in the friendly confines of Great American Ball Park. Of his 100 runs batted in, nearly three-quarters (72) came while playing at GABP.

As it was prior to the 2020 season, I don't know if the market is there for Nick Castellanos. He's a passionate player who's beloved by the fanbase in Cincinnati, and Castellanos seemed to revel in positive reaction he received from Reds Country last season.

The question is; will the Cincinnati Reds beat Castellanos' highest offer? They most certainly can, despite what you may hear from the team's ownership and front office. If you take into consideration the fact that Cincinnati will soon be off the hook for Joey Votto's $25M per season, this franchise certainly has the means to retain Nick Castellanos.

If the Reds are able to shed one more large contract (Mike Moustakas, Sonny Gray, etc.), I believe they'll make a run at keeping Castellanos in Cincinnati. No one though the Reds had a shot at signing Castellanos after the 2019 season, and they have an even better opportunity this go-around. It'd be quite the welcome surprise to see Nick Castellanos in a Reds uniform next season.