The Phillies’ first spring training full-squad workout is just one week away, yet Nick Castellanos, the right fielder they vowed to move on from, still holds a roster spot.
In late January, the Phillies’ President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski once again confirmed the team is intent on parting ways with the veteran outfielder, who enters the final year of his contract in 2026 with a hefty $20 million dollars still owed to him. While many expected a move to be made shortly thereafter, days and weeks passed with still no updates on Castellanos’ future. When Weston Wilson was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for newly re-signed catcher J.T. Realmuto, fans were left shaking their heads wondering why you would let a versatile player like Wilson go, rather than simply cutting ties with Castellanos then and there.
The obvious, though evidently misguided answer, is that the Phillies are still holding out hope that a trade partner will come along to ease some of the $20 million contract pain that goes hand-in-hand with releasing Nick outright. Unfortunately, the Phillies have seemingly underestimated just how low Nick’s value has plummeted, with the team at least partly to blame for that decline.
While his -0.8 WAR, is certainly a glaring stat that potential suitors cannot ignore, some of Castellanos’ devaluation is the result of self-inflicted wounds on the part of the Phillies front office. His very public falling out with Phillies’ manager Rob Thomson over playing time ultimately led to the team repeatedly expressing their desire to move on from him before the start of the 2026 season, thus removing any potential leverage they may have had with trade partners who can clearly smell the desperation.
From Fan Favorite to Persona Non Grata
Nick Castellanos has always been a mercurial character with a reputation for being impatient, curt and sometimes openly hostile with the media. But when he initially joined the Phillies in 2022, the growing sentiment among fans was that his honesty and authenticity was refreshing, and it really felt like he fit the blue collar mentality. And of course, it was always a treat when he would give us those rare playful moments, like he did when he talked about why Scooby Doo was his favorite superhero or when he fist bumped a fan after a home run. He felt relatable. He felt like one of us.
In 2023 and 2024 his clutch postseason performances further endeared him to fans, as he proved he had the thick skin to perform under the intense pressure of Philadelphia’s “Red October”. During the 2023 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, Castellanos became the first player in MLB history to hit multiple home runs in consecutive playoff games, hitting two home runs in both game 3 and game 4. In the series he hit an astonishing .467 with four home runs, four RBIs, and five runs scored in four games. His performance was instrumental in powering the Phillies past the Braves and into the NLCS.
Fans were also treated to a very personal look at the softer side of the man, as his relationship with son Liam came to the forefront during the Phillies’ postseason runs. Liam quickly became a welcomed sight at the ballpark, as his presence seemed to elevate his dad’s play. Who could soon forget the special moment they shared after Nick’s game-tying walk-off single to defeat the Mets in game 2 of the 2024 NLDS? A touching moment that reminded us all that Nick Castellanos is not just a highly paid athlete; he’s a father who loves his son.
But all good things must come to an end, and the fan tide quickly turned after Nick’s rough 2025 season. A year defined by subpar defense and declining offensive numbers, was further marred by the clubhouse drama that had some concerned about his quality as a teammate and possible negative force in the clubhouse. Fan frustrations were further exacerbated by Castellanos’ comments after the Phillies went down 0-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 NLDS, when he expressed his frustration at the fans booing during their loss, saying:
“When the game is going good, it’s wind at our back, but when the game is not going good, it’s wind in our face. The environment can be with us, and the environment can be against us.”
This obviously did not go over well with the Philadelphia fan base, the consensus being that highly paid athletes should be able to step up to the challenge and perform in high pressure situations. Blaming the fans for the team coming up short felt ridiculous, and frankly, a little petty.
Will The Phillies Figure It Out In the Nick of Time?
Whether you love him or hate him, Nick Castellanos has been an important part of this Phillies team. A team that really brought the ballpark back to life in a city where baseball had been floundering for quite some time. That change all started in 2022, Nick’s first year as a Phillie. The team treated fans to a most unexpected World Series run, and while they ultimately fell just short, the season left the fan base feeling proud rather than deflated. That team exceeded expectations and brought excitement and the highest vibes back to Philadelphia baseball, and through it all Nick consistently shined when the lights were brightest.
But time marches on, and while the team continued to have regular season success, failure to live up to the new lofty expectations and the inability of this core group to seize the opportunity to bring a World Series back to Philadelphia have taken their toll. Unfortunately, strained relationships often come with the territory.
Will Dave prove to be a man of his word and cut Nick loose to make way for the highly anticipated debut of prospect Justin Crawford, or has he decided that the cost is ultimately too high as time runs out on finding a trade partner? With just one short week before the squad assembles in Clearwater, he’ll need to make a decision soon, because ultimately someone will have to become a casualty to make room for Crawford on the 40-man roster.
