The Philadelphia Phillies have officially parted ways with Nick Castellanos after a period of trade rumors throughout the offseason. The team announced on Thursday that Castellanos has been released, and they will continue to pay his $20 million annual salary for this season, minus the league minimum of $780,000 per day if he signs with another team.
Turning 34 next month, Castellanos had the roughest season of his career in 2025, hitting only .240/.294/.400 with 17 home runs and reportedly having occasional disputes with manager Rob Thomson. He also revealed that he brought beer into the dugout after being pulled from a game last June. Defensively, Castellanos struggled significantly in right field, resulting in a negative value of -0.6 WAR, and over his four seasons with the Phillies, his WAR-plus was only 0.8. Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski noted that although they considered trading him earlier in the offseason, his high salary and decline in performance made a trade impractical.
The Phillies held off on releasing Castellanos until position players began reporting to spring training in hopes of finding a team willing to cover part of his salary in a trade, but that never materialized. It was evident the Phillies were ready to move forward, and potential suitors knew they could wait to sign him later as a free agent.
Earlier in the offseason, Philadelphia signed Adris Garcia to a one-year, $10 million deal to fill the void left by Castellanos. Though similar in hitting style—both with power but lacking plate discipline—Garcia is a significantly stronger defender, especially in right field, which is a major upgrade. Manager Rob Thomson’s expected starting lineup includes Garcia in right field, with Tori Turner leading off, Kyle Schwarber at DH, Bryce Harper at first base, Alec Bohm at third, Brandon Marsh and Otto Kemp in left, Bryson Stott at second, JT Realmuto catching, and Justin Crawford in center field.
If Castellanos clears release waivers, he will be free to sign with any team for a prorated minimum salary. The San Diego Padres showed interest in him over the offseason but have since signed Miguel Andujar as their DH. The Toronto Blue Jays might consider him, but with George Springer firmly entrenched as their DH, opportunities could be limited. Teams not contending for the playoffs, like the Chicago White Sox or Washington Nationals, might be the best short-term destinations for Castellanos. However, it may be more prudent for him to wait until spring training games start and gauge if injuries around the league create demand for a veteran DH or backup hitter, as there isn’t currently strong interest for a player of his profile.
The Phillies finished last season as the National League East champions with a record of 96-66 but were eliminated by the Los Angeles in the National League Division Series (NLDS). Castellanos started in three of the four NLDS games but went just 2-for-15 in the series.
Fan Take: This move is significant for baseball fans because it signals the Phillies’ commitment to improving both their defense and clubhouse chemistry. Castellanos’ departure might help the team shake off a disappointing stretch and create more opportunities for younger players, while also highlighting the challenges veteran players face when performance and attitude don’t align with team goals.
