Nick Castellanos is one of the hottest names on the market as Major League Baseball approaches its July 31 trade deadline. The Detroit Tigers outfielder has only 11 home runs, but he leads the majors with 34 doubles and is hitting .284/.342/.480 and would be a welcome addition to many clubs’ lineups.
And Castellanos believes that his numbers should be even better. His extraordinary number of doubles, he figures, is due in large part to his home ballpark’s cavernous center field.
Castellanos on Comerica National Park:
“This park is a joke. It’s to the point where how are we going to be compared to the rest of the league for power numbers, OPS, slugging and all this stuff when we got a yard out here that’s 420 feet straight across to center field”— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) July 21, 2019
Measuring up
Comerica Park goes 420 feet to dead center field, tied for longest in the majors with Fenway Park. Fenway, however, makes up for it with short porches in both left and right field and the doubles-creating Green Monster. The next longest center-field distance is 415 feet at Coors Field, where the ball flies.
No other park has a center field longer than 410 feet. There’s no doubt that extra 10 feet takes away some home runs and creates more doubles and triples — Castellanos led the league in three-baggers a year ago.
But is it really making that big of a difference? Castellanos believes so.
“We get on second base or third base, and they’re looking, like, ‘Man, how do you guys do this?'” he said after Monday’s game. We play 81 games here. I don’t want to hear about your two that you hit that are questionable.”
The Tigers rank last in the majors with just 34 home runs in 48 games at their home ballpark. https://t.co/ptFxDioKQk
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) July 23, 2019
Not his problem anymore?
Of course, Castellanos might be complaining because he’s aware he won’t have to live with Comerica very much longer.
The Tigers are actively shopping the 27-year-old outfielder, with the Cubs and Rays mentioned most often as trade partners. Chances are, he’ll be dealt before next Wednesday’s deadline.
“I’m at the point where I really don’t care what happens,” he said. “Why care? I can’t control it. Why care if one day my hair is going to turn gray if I can’t control it? I don’t know if that analogy makes any sense, but it popped into my head.”
In addition to Cubs, Rays have checked in on Nick Castellanos. Not a perfect fit, tho, and no evidence it’s close yet with them. @cmccosky 1st mentioned Cubs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 23, 2019
(h/t ESPN.com)
