Nick Castellanos joins Phillies, eager to win in postseason

By: Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press Posted: 4:00 PM CDT Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2022 Last Modified: 5:00 PM CDT Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2022

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CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Shortly after his introductory news conference with the Philadelphia Phillies, Nick Castellanos went to a back field at the team’s spring training complex and fielded grounders at third base.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/03/2022 (1641 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The All-Star slugger hasn’t played the position since 2017 but he’s ready just in case.

“Whatever the team needs, I have a Phillie hat on,” Castellanos said Wednesday.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos smiles as he is introduced during a news conference at the team's spring training complex, Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Clearwater, Fla. Castellanos and the Phillies finalized a $100 million, five-year contract on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Alec Bohm is Philadelphia’s regular third baseman so Castellanos can stick to playing outfield for now.

“Our plans are to play him in left and right and DH,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He still likes to take groundballs so he will do that. That’s part of his routine. My eyes will be open when he’s there.”

Castellanos got a $100 million, five-year contract from the Phillies after a career season in Cincinnati. He batted .309 with 34 homers, 100 RBIs and a .939 OPS last year for the Reds, making his first All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger Award. He is a .278 career hitter with 168 home runs, 594 RBIs and an .814 OPS in nine major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Reds.

Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and agent Scott Boras raved about Castellanos’ work ethic and his desire to improve.

How much better can he be?

“I guess we’ll find out, right?” Castellanos said.

Dombrowski was president and general manager of the Tigers when they drafted Castellanos in 2010 and he debuted with Detroit in 2013. After the Phillies added slugger Kyle Schwarber last week and Castellanos was still available, Dombrowski convinced ownership to surpass the luxury tax threshold to sign him.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos works out before a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Clearwater, Fla. Castellanos and the Phillies finalized a $100 million, five-year contract on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

“I know how good a player he is and how good a hitter he is and what he brings to a team,” Dombrowski said. “He’s one of the premier hitters in baseball. He brings more than just a bat to the lineup. With his determination, winning atmosphere, chemistry that he brings to the clubhouse, he’s a championship type of individual.”

Phillies managing partner John Middleton didn’t hesitate to sign the check.

“It was a short conversation,” Middleton said. “I started to interrupt him because I knew where it was going and I was fine with it.”

Castellanos and Schwarber join reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper in the middle of a Phillies lineup that also features All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, Jean Segura and Didi Gregorius.

The Phillies are counting on their offense to help them snap an NL-worst, 10-year postseason drought.

“I’ve played over 1,000 big league games and I have zero playoff wins,” Castellanos said. “I’ve made money, I’ve hit homers, I’ve played on TV, but I haven’t won any games that matter. I would like to do that.”

Harper pushed the Phillies to make the deal happen. Boras, who negotiated a $330 million, 13-year deal for Harper to come to Philadelphia in 2019, joked that the two-time NL MVP called him four times a day to help make Castellanos his teammate.

FILE - Cincinnati Reds' Nick Castellanos heads to first during the team's baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 13, 2021, in Philadelphia. Castellanos and the Phillies have agreed to a $100 million, five-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity early Saturday, March 19, because the deal is subject to a successful physical and had not been announced by the team. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

“He’s really built for an audience like this,” Boras said. “I think what everybody in Philadelphia will come to understand is there’s no nonsense with Nick. It’s, ‘I’ve got to win, I want to win, I’ve never won, I’m going to win.’ That’s kind of his attitude.”

NOTES: Schwarber made his Phillies debut, going 0 for 3 in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter in an 8-7 win over Toronto on Wednesday. … CF Adam Haseley was 1 for 3 with one RBI. The Phillies have a wide-open competition for center field. Matt Vierling is a leading candidate. Odubel Herrera could join Vierling in a platoon once he recovers from a rib/oblique injury.

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