Nick Castellanos went on the Chris Rose Rotation and let it all hang out. The All-Star outfielder let it be known that the Cincinnati Reds didn't even give him a phone call after he opted out of his contract following the 2021 season.
Rose asked Castellanos multiple questions about the state of the Reds and Major League Baseball in general. Castellanos' comments about the Reds ownership were not very flattering, though the slugger didn't throw any shade towards general manager Nick Krall. In fact, Castellanos referred to Krall as a "really good guy".
The Reds never called Nick Castellanos after he opted out.
Most of what Nick Castellanos spoke about during the interview isn't earth-shattering information. Anyone who's tuned into the Cincinnati Reds offseasons over the last two years would agree with Castellanos. The Philadelphia Phillies outfielder said that the Reds have been cutting payroll.
Castellanos, when prompted by Rose about whether or not he would have appreciated a phone call from the Reds front office to inform him that the club couldn't afford him, last year's Silver Slugger Award-winner responded by asking, "How do you know what you can afford if you don't make an offer?"
Nick Castellanos offered a variety of opinions and spoke a great length about the business-aspect of the game of baseball. Castellanos agreed with Rose when the host said that he felt bad for the city of Cincinnati.
"We didn't get here by looking at this game as a business. We got here by looking at this game as our life."Nick Castellanos, Phillies outfielder
Castellanos lumped Cincinnati and Pittsburgh into the same conversation; speaking about the rich baseball history that both cities have enjoyed over the years, and expressing sadness at how the fanbases in those respective communities have lost faith in ownership's ability to put a winning product on the field.
Nick Castellanos took it one step further, suggesting that Major League Baseball is probably cool with the idea of losing "real fans" because the league is gearing everything toward gambling. Castellanos wants to see baseball market the game more toward winning and what's going on in the clubhouse rather than the over/ under and money lines.
The former Cincinnati Reds slugger didn't hold back, and a majority of the fanbase probably agrees with what Nick Castellanos had to say. The Reds could certainly use Castellanos' bat in their lineup as the 30-year-old is hitting .306/.382/.571 with three homers.