Reds 2025 roster needs something it's been lacking since Nick Castellanos' departure

After the 2021 season, the Cincinnati Reds gutted the team in excruciating fashion, trading talented and players like Sonny Gray, and Eugenio Suarez among others. The return on those trades has proven better than even president of baseball operations Nick Krall could even foresee as the major league roster is now stocked with young, talented, and inexpensive players. But not every loss that offseason was via trade.

The move, or non-move as it was, that sent the fanbase over the edge in terms of discontentment was the departure of Nick Castellanos, who signed a 5-year, $100 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies shortly before the season started.

The Reds made no effort to sign him. Cincinnati was over .500 both seasons Castellanos was in a Reds uniform after being under water for the six seasons prior. In his second and last season with the Reds, Castellanos led the team in batting average (.309) and slugging (.576) while making the All-Star team.

Reds 2025 roster needs something it's been lacking since Nick Castellanos' departure

Castellanos’ time with the Phillies has not been as good as his second season with the Reds when he sported a 3.4 WAR, but he has put up a healthy slash line of .263/.309/.435 with 22 home runs per year. But he made the All-Star team in 2023 and has been a dependable power bat from the right side — something the current Reds roster needs.

There is something else that Castellanos possesses that the Reds could use an injection of into their lineup. The Reds are full of youthful players eager to prove themselves and that shows itself in the form of enthusiasm. That enthusiasm makes them fun to watch and easy to root for. Castellanos has edge. It is a passion for the game with a small chip on your shoulder. That swagger made him a presence in the dugout.

The swagger is something other Reds before Castellanos had — Brandon Phillips and Dave Parker come to mind. When a veteran player exudes the confidence like these guys did, the younger players feed off that. It has to be controlled. I am old enough to remember Amir Garrett.

You want one guy on your team that the other team dislikes. Castellanos set the tone for the 2021 season on April 3rd after flexing in the face of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford after a play at the plate. It led to a wee bit of a brawl. Naturally, Yadier Molina jumped into the center of the fracas. Molina is one of those guys — hated by the other team while respected by his own.

Alas, a reunion with Castellanos seems very unlikely considering that, in more than one occasion, he has thrown shade at Krall and ownership. Is there anyone who will be in the dugout with the 2025 Reds who will bring the swagger? Let us hope so.

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