Nick Castellanos’ time in Philadelphia appears to be nearing its end - and not with a curtain call, but with a quiet, awkward exit.
The veteran outfielder, who signed a five-year, $100 million deal with the Phillies ahead of the 2022 season, has reportedly been asked not to report to spring training this week. According to league sources, the Phillies haven’t even assigned him a locker at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Castellanos is still technically on the roster, but the message is clear: the team is moving on.
This isn’t your typical spring training drama. Castellanos is owed $20 million for the upcoming season - the final year of his deal - but the Phillies are actively trying to shed that salary.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski confirmed the club’s intention to move the outfielder before camp opens, saying, “That’s our focus prior to the start of spring training. We’re doing everything we can to make a move by that time period.”
So far, that move hasn’t materialized. If a trade partner doesn’t emerge in the next couple of days, the Phillies may have no choice but to release Castellanos outright.
It’s a striking fall from grace for a player who was once one of the more feared right-handed bats in the league. But the numbers tell the story: Castellanos posted a -0.8 bWAR last season over 144 games, with a .250/.294/.400 slash line, 17 home runs, 72 RBIs, and an OPS+ of just 88 - well below league average. For a team with postseason aspirations and a deepening roster, that kind of production just doesn’t cut it, especially at a premium salary.
Beyond the stats, there were some rough moments that didn’t help his standing in Philly. One notable incident came in May, when Castellanos had a visible altercation with the coaching staff in the dugout.
He was benched the next day, ending a streak of 236 consecutive starts - the second-longest active streak in the majors at the time. That moment seemed to crystallize the growing disconnect between player and club.
Castellanos did have his flashes in a Phillies uniform - some clutch hits, some stretches where his bat looked like it might catch fire again - but consistency was elusive. And in a city like Philadelphia, where passion runs high and expectations are even higher, that inconsistency, paired with a few public missteps, made it tough for him to fully win over the fanbase.
Now, the Phillies are looking to turn the page. With a roster built around stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and a pitching staff that’s ready to compete, every roster spot - and every dollar - matters. Holding onto a struggling veteran with a hefty price tag just doesn’t align with where this team is headed.
Whether Castellanos finds a new home via trade or hits the open market after a release, his next chapter will be written somewhere else. For now, though, the writing on the wall in Clearwater couldn’t be any clearer: the Phillies are moving on.