Phillies expected to move on from $20 million former All-Star ahead of 2026 season
By Billy Heyen
January 20, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies appear set to enter the 2026 season with a roster that looks largely familiar, but one notable name is increasingly likely to be gone before spring training begins.
That player is veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos.
According to MLB.com Phillies reporter Todd Zolecki, the organization’s stance has not changed: Philadelphia is still actively trying to separate from Castellanos and his sizable contract. Zolecki shared on X that the Phillies are searching for a trade partner willing to absorb even a portion of Castellanos’ $20 million salary for the upcoming season.
At 34 years old in March, Castellanos is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign. He finished the season hitting .250 with 17 home runs, numbers that look passable on the surface but fall short when placed in context. Advanced metrics were far less forgiving, as Castellanos posted a minus-0.8 Wins Above Replacement, signaling that his overall contribution actually hurt the club more than it helped.
Defensively, Castellanos has become a major concern. His struggles in right field are well documented, and his limited range and reaction time increasingly put pressure on the Phillies’ pitching staff. Even if he were moved into a designated hitter role full-time, his .694 OPS in 2025 is not strong enough to justify regular at-bats, especially for a team with postseason aspirations.
Castellanos’ career résumé tells a different story. Once a feared slugger with the Detroit Tigers, he later found success with the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds before signing with Philadelphia. Early in his Phillies tenure, his bat provided enough production to offset defensive shortcomings, and he played a key role in the club’s offensive identity during that stretch.
However, that balance has shifted. Castellanos now strikes out at a higher rate, rarely draws walks, and no longer consistently delivers the power that once defined his game. As those offensive trends have declined, his defensive limitations have become harder to hide.
There’s still a belief around the league that a change of scenery could help Castellanos rediscover some of his power, particularly in a more hitter-friendly environment or a reduced role. But from Philadelphia’s perspective, the financial commitment looms large. A $20 million salary is a heavy burden for a player whose skill set no longer aligns with the club’s needs or competitive window.
That reality explains why the Phillies are reportedly willing to eat part of the contract if it means gaining roster flexibility and clearing space for younger, more athletic options. Whether a trade partner emerges or whether the situation drags deeper into the spring remains unclear.
What is clear is that the Phillies appear ready to turn the page. As they finalize their plans for 2026, moving on from Castellanos looks less like a possibility and more like an inevitability, even if the path to doing so proves complicated.
