The Reds need to pivot elsewhere after previously being connected to Luis Robert Jr. in trade rumors.
The Cincinnati Reds were previously connected to outfielder Luis Robert Jr. in trade rumors. However, the Chicago White Sox traded Robert to the New York Mets on Tuesday night. Jeff Passan of ESPN broke the news. So, what's next for the Reds?
Cincinnati needs to add offensive help. The starting rotation features a high ceiling but it won't matter if the ball club fails to consistently score runs. In all reality, the Reds probably need two or three more hitters, but today we are going to look at one player they should pivot to after the Mets' trade for Robert.
Reds Should Trade for Nick Castellanos
Sure, Castellanos may not be the hitter he once was. The 33-year-old still offers power from the right side of the plate, however. He is also familiar with Great American Ball Park, having spent two seasons with Cincinnati in 2020 and 2021.
Castellanos had one of the best seasons of his career in 2021, slashing .309/.362/.576 to go along with 34 home runs, 38 doubles, 100 RBI and a .939 OPS. His impressive campaign led to his first career All-Star selection. Castellanos also finished 12th in National League MVP voting.
In 2025 with the Philadelphia Phillies, Castellanos hit just .250/.294/.400. Expecting him to bounce back is reasonable, but he probably won't replicate his 2021 numbers. Nevertheless, Castellanos is still capable of providing a much needed offensive boost for the Reds.
Acquiring him would not be especially costly either. The Phillies are rumored to have serious interest in moving on from him. It would not be surprising to see Philadelphia accept a deal for just one or two prospects. The Reds would likely only need to take on a few million dollars of his contract as well.
Speaking of his contract, Castellanos is only under team control for the 2026 season before entering free agency. The Reds could always discuss a contract extension with him if a trade comes to fruition, but there is no current long-term commitment.
For a ball club that wants to build off its Wild Card run in 2025, bringing in Castellanos for the '26 campaign makes sense. He won't completely change the entire dynamic of the Reds' lineup, but Castellanos will add right-handed power to an offense that is fairly lackluster at the moment. Giving star shortstop Elly De La Cruz another power bat in the lineup could help him in 2026 as well.