"Keep it to where nobody can really own the game" - Phillies OF Nick Castellanos would like ownership to be accountable for losing teams

There seem to be quite a few team owners in the MLB that are content with operating losing teams for long periods, so Nick Castellanos shared his thoughts on how to tackle the situation.

The Phillies outfielder feels that team ownership should be held accountable for the performance of the team in the same way that players are. He says that the introduction of a merit-based system for owners would be hugely beneficial.

Castellanos is into his 12th season in the MLB, having made his debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2013. He also had spells with the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds before signing a five-year, $100 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022. Castellanos has enjoyed a successful period with the franchise and is set to make his third straight appearance in the postseason.

On Wednesday, Castellanos told MLBFITS about one change he would initiate if he became the MLB commissioner for a day.

"I would change that ownership doesn't have any severe consequences for losing for an extended period of time," Castellanos replied.

"Just like if we're in the big leagues for a long time and we don't perform well, we get demoted or cut," he said. "If their organization didn't perform well, somebody else would have an opportunity to buy it from them. You know, just to like keep it to where nobody can really own the game of baseball, because the game is above true ownership."

The idea from Castellanos will certainly strike a chord with MLB fans. Having greater all-round competition will make the league better rather than having the same teams lying at the bottom of their divisions every year.

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Nick Castellanos on a good run after slow start to 2024

Nick Castellanos has recovered from a slow start to the 2024 season. (Photo Credit: Getty)

Over his career, Nick Castellanos has proven himself to be a solid hitter in the big leagues, although he's susceptible to lengthy barren spells.

The Philadelphia Phillies slugger had a poor start to the 2024 season, as he batted sightly over .200 with an OPS just above .600 in the first two months of the campaign.

However, Castellanos has performed quite well at the plate since then. The 32-year-old rightfielder has batted .278/.324/.479 with an OPS of .803 since the start of June. He has contributed 24 extra-base hits and 47 RBIs, including 11 home runs.