Why the Guardians Should Pass on Nick Castellanos-Even at a Bargain
Nick Castellanos is officially a free agent after the Phillies cut ties with the veteran outfielder on Thursday. The move wasn’t exactly a shock-rumblings about Philadelphia moving on from Castellanos have been circulating since October.
Now that he’s available for the league minimum, teams in need of outfield help may be tempted to kick the tires. But for the Cleveland Guardians, this is one opportunity that’s better left alone.
Let’s start with the basics: Castellanos is a two-time All-Star with a track record of offensive production. That résumé alone will get some front offices talking. And considering any team that signs him would only be on the hook for the league minimum-while the Phillies eat the $20 million left on his contract-there’s a certain low-risk appeal.
But this isn’t 2023 Castellanos, the guy who mashed 29 homers and drove in 106 runs en route to an All-Star nod. This is 2026 Castellanos, coming off a season where he hit .250 with 17 home runs over 147 games-and struggled mightily on defense.
By most metrics, he was among the league’s worst outfielders last season. And while the bat still flashes power from time to time, the consistency just hasn’t been there.
There’s also the matter of his standing in the clubhouse. The Phillies benched Castellanos in June for what was initially reported as an “inappropriate comment.”
Castellanos later clarified on Instagram that he was benched for bringing a beer into the dugout. Whether that’s a misunderstanding or something more, it’s the kind of off-field distraction most teams would prefer to avoid, especially in a young, developing clubhouse like Cleveland’s.
For the Guardians, this isn’t just about whether Castellanos can still hit. It’s about fit.
This is a team that’s spent the offseason signaling a youth movement in the outfield. With top prospects like Chase DeLauter and George Valera expected to take on bigger roles, adding a veteran like Castellanos-especially one who needs regular at-bats to stay sharp-could muddy the waters.
Yes, he hits right-handed, and yes, the Guardians could use more pop from that side of the plate. But bringing in Castellanos now, after largely sitting out the outfield market all winter, would feel like a reactionary move.
It’s a short-term patch that could disrupt long-term development. That’s not the kind of pivot a team with a clear developmental plan should be making a week into spring training.
And let’s be honest-if Castellanos were still the kind of player who moves the needle for a contender, he wouldn’t have been released outright. The Phillies explored trade options all offseason.
No takers. That says plenty about how the league views his current value.
There’s always a chance he catches on somewhere, finds a groove, and reminds us why he was once one of the more feared bats in the NL. But for the Guardians, that’s a bet not worth making. The upside doesn’t outweigh the potential disruption-not when the outfield finally looks like it’s ready to turn a corner with young, homegrown talent.
Sometimes, the best move is the one you don’t make. And in this case, Cleveland would be wise to let Castellanos walk on by.