Before Nick Castellanos decided to join the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent in the offseason, he was seen as a slam dunk to join another NL East team: the Miami Marlins.
In fact, it was leaked, several weeks ago, that one of the reasons why Derek Jeter, a former part owner and CEO of the Marlins, decided to step aside was that he was promised money to spend over the offseason, and planned on doing it on Castellanos.
The player all but confirmed that this week.
“Phillies OF Nick Castellanos just told me that he thought he would be a Marlin until Jeter left Marlins. Jeter wanted him,” Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweeted.
Phillies OF Nick Castellanos just told me that he thought he would be a Marlin until Jeter left Marlins. Jeter wanted him
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 14, 2022
The offensively-challenged Marlins could really have used a slugger like Castellanos on their roster.
They have had some of the best and deepest pitching staffs in MLB, but a lack of impact hitters has stopped their progress in recent years.
The Marlins Don’t Have Too Many Impact Hitters
Besides Jazz Chisholm, they haven’t had too much luck with offensive players: Isan and Lewin Diaz, Lewis Brinson, Jesus Sanchez, and others have failed to develop into reliable contributors, and some of them aren’t in the organization at this point.
Castellanos, who slashed .309/.362/.576 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI with the Cincinnati Reds last season, ended up committing his future to the Phillies.
He signed a five-year, $100 million contract in March, after the lockout, to play in Philadelphia alongside Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
The Marlins didn’t want to spend big on a hitter, and at the moment, they are dead last in the NL East, with a 1-4 record before Thursday’s action.
They will probably pay the price for their unwillingness to invest on the roster.
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