CINCINNATI (AP) — Free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos agreed to a $64 million, four-year deal in the Cincinnati Reds' latest big-money move to emerge from years of losing, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the club hadn't announced the deal, which would allow Castellanos to opt out and become a free agent after the 2020 or 2021 seasons. If he cuts the deal short after one year, he would receive $16 million.It was the fourth significant move by the Reds, among the most active teams in free agency since their sixth consecutive losing season. The Reds have has committed $174 million to new players, including the two biggest free agent deals in club history.Cincinnati signed second baseman Mike Moustakas to a $64 million, four-year contract and added left-handed starter Wade Miley on a $15 million, two-year deal. Japanese All-Star outfielder Shogo Akiyama got a $21 million, three-year deal.Castellanos'... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos agreed to a $64 million, four-year deal in the Cincinnati Reds' latest big-money move to emerge from years of losing, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the club hadn't announced the deal, which would allow Castellanos to opt out and become a free agent after the 2020 season.It was the fourth significant move by the Reds, among the most active teams in free agency since their sixth consecutive losing season. The Reds have has committed $174 million to new players, including the two biggest free agent deals in club history.Cincinnati signed second baseman Mike Moustakas to a $64 million, four-year contract and added left-handed starter Wade Miley on a $15 million, two-year deal. Japanese All-Star outfielder Shogo Akiyama got a $21 million, three-year deal.Castellanos' deal raised the offseason total of contracts negotiated by agent Scott... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Free agent outfielder Nicholas Castellanos agreed to a $64 million, four-year deal Monday in the Cincinnati Reds' latest big-money move to emerge from years of losing, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the club hadn't announced the deal, which would allow Castellanos to opt out and become a free agent after the 2020 season.It's the fourth significant move by the Reds, who have been among the most active teams in free agency since they wrapped up their sixth consecutive losing season. Cincinnati has committed $174 million to new players, including the two biggest free agent deals in club history.The Reds signed second baseman Mike Moustakas to a $64 million, four-year deal and added left-handed starter Wade Miley on a $15 million, two-year deal. Japanese All-Star outfielder Shogo Akiyama got a $21 million, three-year deal.The Reds' biggest weakness last season was offense. They... [More]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Shogo Akiyama knew the Cincinnati Reds were the only Major League Baseball team that never had a player born in Japan. The chance to break a barrier was part of his impetus to sign.Akiyama got a $21 million, three-year deal this week with the Reds. They introduced him Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, where the five-time Japanese All-Star figures to play one of the outfield spots and bat high in the order.“The fact that they’ve never had a Japanese player was something that was very attractive, and their presentation was impressive," Akiyama said, through translator Roger Kahlon. "It made me want to play here.”The Reds scouted the 31-year-old outfielder for the last few seasons in Japan's Pacific League and made the biggest push to sign him when he became a free agent, which also made an impression.“We were the first team to approach him, the first to give him scouting materials, the first team he met with at the winter meetings and the first to offer him a contract,”... [More]