Tigers' Castellanos rejected move to 1B without extension

Last season, Detroit Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos rejected a request to move to first base.

Castellanos clarified his position, stating he'd welcome a position change if the Tigers were planning on keeping him long term.

"I told them ... if you offer me an extension, you show me that I am a piece of the future, I'll play first," Castellanos said, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. "I'll even throw bullpens for you. But give that security."

The 27-year-old was a first-round selection by the Tigers in the 2010 draft and is slated to hit free agency for the first time after this season. As such, he - along with other Tigers veterans - has been the subject of trade talks heading into the summer.

Castellanos would welcome a new contract and disputes the notion the Tigers have engaged in extension talks in the past.

"I've been open to any extension talks, but that hasn't happened," Castellanos said. "They said that I turned one down in the offseason of '17, but that wasn't true."

He added that Tigers general manager Al Avila told him at the end of 2018 that the team wasn't in a position to offer an extension.

Over parts of seven seasons in Detroit, Castellanos has hit .273/.322/.458 with 100 home runs and 411 RBIs.