Nick Castellanos Released by Phillies After Dugout Beer Incident: A Veteran’s Tenure Ends in Controversy
The writing was on the wall before the official word came down. When the Philadelphia Phillies opened spring training without reserving a locker for Nick Castellanos, the message was clear: his time in red pinstripes was over. On Thursday, the team made it official, releasing the veteran outfielder after being unable to work out a trade.
Castellanos, 33, didn’t go quietly. In a handwritten note posted to Instagram, the two-time All-Star thanked the Phillies organization and its passionate fanbase, but also opened up about what he called the “tipping point” in his relationship with the team - a dugout beer incident during a road game in Miami last June.
According to Castellanos, the moment that fractured his standing with the club came after he was pulled from a close game against the Marlins - a game he had circled on the calendar, with friends and family in attendance. Frustrated by the decision to remove him for defensive purposes, Castellanos brought a Presidente beer into the dugout and sat down next to manager Rob Thomson. That act, he now admits, was a mistake.
“After being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family, I brought a Presidente into the dugout,” Castellanos wrote. “I then sat right next to Rob and let him know that too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others are not conducive to us winning.”
That moment sparked a behind-closed-doors meeting between Castellanos, Thomson, and Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Castellanos said the three “aired out our differences,” and he offered an apology for letting his emotions get the best of him. He also claimed he was prepared to speak publicly about the incident the following day, but was told by team management to keep the matter internal.
It’s a rare glimpse behind the curtain of a clubhouse conflict - and a reminder that even established veterans can find themselves on the outside looking in when relationships sour.
Castellanos was entering the final year of a five-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Phillies back in 2022. The contract, which once looked like a cornerstone move for a team chasing a World Series title, ended with a thud.
Castellanos is coming off the worst season of his 13-year MLB career, finishing with a -0.8 bWAR and a .250/.294/.400 slash line. His 17 home runs and 88 OPS+ painted the picture of a player who struggled to find his rhythm - or his role - in a lineup that demanded consistency.
While the numbers tell one story, the off-field tension adds another layer. Castellanos, known for his fiery personality and emotional intensity, has never been one to hide how he feels. That passion has earned him fans across the league - and, at times, put him at odds with those trying to manage a 26-man roster through the grind of a 162-game season.
Still, in his farewell, Castellanos showed accountability. “It was a huge mistake,” he wrote, acknowledging that as a veteran, he should have handled things differently. For a player with over a decade in the big leagues, that kind of self-awareness doesn’t go unnoticed - especially as he now hits free agency with something to prove.
The Phillies, meanwhile, move forward without one of their most high-profile signings of the last few years. For a club with championship aspirations, the decision signals a clear message about clubhouse culture and expectations. Talent matters, but so does trust - and when that breaks down, even a $100 million contract isn’t enough to hold things together.
As for Castellanos, the next chapter begins now. He’s a free agent, a veteran bat with postseason experience and a chip on his shoulder.
There’s still pop in his swing - and likely, fire in his belly. The question is whether another team is ready to bet on both.