Former Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos seals Phillies' trip to the World Series

The Cincinnati Reds, who went into to full-on rebuild mode prior to the 2022 season, abandoned the idea of re-signing outfielder Nick Castellanos this past spring.

Castellanos, who played two seasons in Cincinnati, opted out of the final two years of the four-year/$64M contract that he signed with the Reds prior to the 2020 season.

Castellanos chose instead to enter free agency once again and landed a five-year/$100M deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Castellanos secured the final out of the Phillies' Game 5 victory over the San Diego Padres, and with that, sen Philadelphia to the World Series for the first time since 2009.

Former Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos seals Phillies' trip to the World Series.

It has been a tumultous first year in the City of Brotherly Love for Nick Castellanos. After having an All-Star season with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, this past year was filled with more downs than ups for Castellanos.

Castellanos posted a bWAR of -0.1 this past season while slashing .263/.305/.389 and hitting just 13 home runs. In Cincinnati last season, the slugger hit .309/.362/.576 and led the Reds in RBIs (100) while slugging 34 home runs.

But once the postseason begins, those regular season numbers mean virtually nothing. Castellanos went hitless in the Philadelphia Phillies Wild Card Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals, but slashed .313/.353/.375 versus the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. Castellanos had four hits, including two doubles in the National League Championship Series.

Nick Castellanos is now part of a National League Championship-winning team and the Philadelphia Phillies begin their quest to win the third World Series Championship in franchise history.

The Phillies took home the Commissioner's' Trophy in 1980 and 2008. That 1980 championship team featured Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose. It was the 17-time All-Star's second of five years in Philadelphia and his third World Series Championship.