Cubs: 3 former players who could return to Chicago
By Thomas Erbe
Nick Castellanos can help the Cubs in the outfield and at the top of the lineup
Nick Castellanos joined the Cubs at the trade deadline in 2019 via the Detroit Tigers. In just 51 games with Chicago, he batted .321 with 16 home runs and became an instant fan favorite. After the team as a whole collapsed down the stretch and missed the playoffs, the Cubs did not act on re-signing Castellanos and he was granted free agency. He signed a five-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds with a player option after year two, the 2021 season. He did indeed opt out, and is available.
The Cubs can use Castellanos badly both offensively and defensively. The ability to have him in right field moves Jason Heyward to center and frees Ian Happ to play a utility role and give guys regular days off. He also would be a nice fit in the number two slot in the batting lineup as a perfect mix of power and consistency, something the Cubs lineup has lacked.
The holdup could be the asking price dictated by his agent, the ever-so-popular Scott Boras.