The Cincinnati Reds struck gold when they signed Nick Castellanos in the 2020 offseason. The dynamic outfielder made the National League All-Star team this season and has been the catalyst, along with Joey Votto and Jesse Winker in Cincinnati's lineup.

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Castellanos is expected to test the free agency waters this offseason.

As Heyman notes, Castellanos has two years and $34 million left on his current deal after this season. But opting for free agency should yield a much bigger contract for the Reds outfielder.

This doesn't mean Castellanos will bolt Cincinnati, they could be right back in the mix to resign him if he does opt out with the Reds.

Cincinnati is right in the thick of the NL wild card race. If the playoff started on Wednesday, it would be the Reds squaring off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a one-game, winner-take-all matchup.

Castellanos has been a big part of the successes this year for the Reds. He's near the top of the league in batting average, hitting .318 on the year with 22 home runs and 70 RBI.

If Castellanos hits the market, he will be one of the premier names available which could easily spark a bidding war.

For now, Castellanos is likely laser focused on holding off the San Diego Padres, who are one game behind the Reds for the final playoff spot in the NL. The race to the finish should be a thriller, and then the offseason stuff can come into focus.