The Philadelphia Phillies made a splash this offseason, signing Adolis García to a one-year, $10 million deal - a move that not only bolsters their already potent lineup but also sends ripples across the National League. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, though, the García signing doesn’t directly impact their roster. They were never seriously in the running for the two-time All-Star, and while his power profile would’ve been a welcome addition in Pittsburgh, the front office wasn’t likely to chase a 32-year-old whose best seasons may be behind him.
But the real story for the Pirates isn’t about who they didn’t sign - it’s about who might now be available because of García.
With García expected to slot into right field alongside Brandon Marsh in left and top prospect Justin Crawford in center, the Phillies suddenly have an outfield logjam. That leaves veteran Nick Castellanos as the odd man out - and very much on the trade block.
From a distance, Castellanos might look like a fit for Pittsburgh. The Pirates have said they plan to increase payroll by around $30 million heading into 2026, and Castellanos’ contract - one year, $20 million - fits snugly within that window. Add in the fact that Pittsburgh finished dead last in the league in home runs last season, and Castellanos’ 69 homers over the past three years might seem like exactly what the team needs.
But here’s the thing: the numbers under the hood tell a very different story.
Castellanos is no longer a viable outfielder. In 2025, he posted a brutal -12 Outs Above Average, effectively making him a designated hitter at this stage of his career.
That, in itself, isn’t a dealbreaker - the Pirates don’t have a locked-in DH right now, unless they bring back Andrew McCutchen. But if you’re going to use a roster spot on a full-time DH, that bat better carry real weight.
And Castellanos’ bat? It just doesn’t.
Last season, he posted a 90 wRC+ - meaning he was 10% below league average as a hitter. His strikeout rate sat at 22.6%, and over four seasons in Philadelphia, he’s been a perfectly average offensive player (100 wRC+) and worth just 0.7 wins above replacement.
That’s not a $20 million player. That’s not a middle-of-the-order threat.
That’s a name with diminishing returns.
So while it’s tempting to connect the dots - Phillies sign García, Castellanos becomes available, Pirates need power - the reality is that this is a move Pittsburgh should steer clear of. Even with money to spend, they’d be better served targeting younger, more versatile bats or investing in pitching depth.
The Phillies will almost certainly try to move Castellanos now that he’s surplus to requirements. But for the Pirates, the best move is the one they don’t make. Let someone else take on that contract and that declining production.
Ben Cherington and the Pirates have a chance to build something sustainable - and that means avoiding short-term fixes that don’t truly move the needle. Castellanos might be available, but that doesn’t mean he’s the answer.