CINCINNATI -- The Reds' top free agent on the market, Nick Castellanos, will receive a qualifying offer from the club, general manager Nick Krall said on Friday.
On Thursday, in a decision that was expected, Castellanos exercised the opt-out clause of his contract to become a free agent, leaving two years and $34 million on the four-year, $64 million contract he signed ahead of the 2020 season.
Clubs have until Sunday to extend a qualifying offer to their free agents. It is a one-year contract worth $18.4 million. Players have 10 days to accept or reject the offer.
If Castellanos rejects the qualifying offer, as is expected, Cincinnati would receive Draft pick compensation should he sign with another club.
The 2017-21 Collective Bargaining Agreement rules state that if the team that loses the free agent is a revenue-sharing recipient, based on its revenues and market size, then the selection -- if and only if the lost player signs for at least $50 million -- will be awarded a pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A of the 2022 MLB Draft.
If the player signs for less than $50 million, the compensation pick for those teams would come after Competitive Balance Round B, which follows the second round.
In 138 games during the 2021 season, Castellanos batted .309/.362/.576 with a career-high 34 home runs, along with 38 doubles and 100 RBIs while becoming a first-time All-Star. He emerged as a fan favorite for his hard-nosed style of play and clutch hitting.
Castellanos, who turns 30 on March 4, had two opt-out clauses in his deal, but he did not exercise the first one following the shortened 2020 season.
There is not an immediate replacement for Castellanos’ production on the Reds' roster. Inside the organization, Aristides Aquino and Tyler Naquin could play right field and left fielder Jesse Winker could also be shifted there to play.
Besides Castellanos, the Reds have three other free agents on the market in relievers Mychal Givens and Michael Lorenzen and infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera.
Castellanos opts out, receives QO from Reds - MLB.com
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