Nick Castellanos’ Future with the Phillies in Doubt

It seems that Nick Castellanos may not have much longer with the Philadelphia Phillies.

While he remains listed on the team’s roster, reports indicate there’s “no locker for him in the clubhouse.” According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies have advised the 33-year-old to “not report to the team complex this week” as they look to end his contract.

There’s speculation that Castellanos could be traded or released “within the next two days.”

The off-season has been particularly challenging for Castellanos. After the Phillies’ defeat to the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, news suggested he would be leaving Philadelphia.

This possibility strengthened when the team signed Adris Garcia, which created even more competition among a roster populated with slower hitters like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.

Turning 34 next month, Castellanos had a rough season last year, hitting .250 with a .294 on-base percentage—the lowest for him in a full season. Additionally, he recorded a career-worst WAR of -1.0.

In 2026, he is set to receive $20 million, marking the fifth and final year of his $100 million contract with the Phillies.

It’s worth noting that Castellanos appeared to have had some friction with coach Rob Thomson during the season.

In late August, he openly critiqued Thomson, expressing frustration over the lack of communication regarding player decisions, particularly after speedy Harrison Bader was removed from a game. Earlier in June, he was benched for a game due to “inappropriate comments” made towards Thomson after being ejected from a match against the Marlins.

Moreover, Castellanos has consistently found himself near the bottom in outfield performance metrics, ranking alongside Schwarber in terms of outs above average at -39 over the past five seasons.