2019 could be a very long season for the Detroit Tigers and it could be even longer if they trade arguably their best player, Nicholas Castellanos.
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One team reportedly interested in trading for Castellanos is the Los Angeles Dodgers, who could be in the market for an outfielder.
Though the Dodgers may have interest, a report from the Los Angeles Times suggests the Tigers asking price is sky-high for their right fielder.
According to the report, for the Tigers to give up Castellanos, the Dodgers would have to get back either outfielder Alex Verdugo (Dodgers No. 1 prospect) or catcher Keibert Ruiz (Dodgers No. 2 prospect).
“If the Dodgers believe they need another right-handed bat, Realmuto would fill the void. They’ve reached out to the Detroit Tigers about outfielder Nick Castellanos, but the initial asking price was Verdugo or Ruiz, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.”
From MLB Trade Rumors:
In the event the Dodgers do bring back Grandal, he’d give them another righty-capable batter, which is something the lefty-heavy club is reportedly seeking after trading away outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. Grandal is one of several such hitters who have been connected to the Dodgers this offseason, with Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos also among those in the mix. But the Dodgers have found the Tigers’ asking price to be prohibitive, per Castillo, who hears that Detroit initially requested either young outfielder Alex Verdugo or catcher prospect Keibert Ruiz from Los Angeles.
Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers balked at giving up either Verdugo or Ruiz for the defensively challenged Castellanos, who’s only under control for another year (at a projected $11.1MM). The 22-year-old Verdugo ranks as the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect and baseball’s 32nd-best farmhand at MLB.com, and could be a prominent member of their 2019 outfield or a major piece in an offseason trade revolving around someone more valuable than Castellanos. Ruiz, 20, is the Dodgers’ second-ranked prospect at MLB.com, which places him 39th overall. Along with fellow catcher prospect Will Smith, Ruiz could be part of the long-term solution for the club behind the plate.
