Phillies Release Veteran Nick Castellanos After Tumultuous Relationship

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Philadelphia Phillies and veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos have parted ways, the team announced Thursday. The move comes after a tumultuous stretch for Castellanos in Philadelphia, marked by declining performance and a strained relationship with team management.

The Phillies had attempted to trade Castellanos during the previous two offseasons, but found limited interest in his contract, which still has $20 million remaining for the 2026 season. The team opted to release him, absorbing the financial hit rather than continuing a situation that had clearly deteriorated.

The breaking point, according to reports, stemmed from an incident in Miami last June. After being removed from a game against the Marlins by manager Rob Thomson for defensive reasons – Castellanos’ -12 Outs Above Average tied for last among 110 outfielders in 2025 – he brought a beer into the dugout. While initially downplayed, the incident became a symbol of a larger disconnect between the player and the organization.

Castellanos addressed the Miami incident in a post on Instagram, acknowledging his actions and expressing frustration with the team’s handling of his role. “After being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family, I brought a presidente into the dugout,” he wrote. He further stated he told Thomson that “too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others are not conducive to us winning.”

The incident led to a benching the following game, which Thomson attributed to an “inappropriate comment” made in the dugout. Castellanos’ reaction, and his willingness to publicly question the manager’s decisions, further exacerbated the tension.

Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged that the Miami incident wasn’t an isolated event, but rather a culmination of issues. “I don’t think it’s necessarily one incident,” Dombrowski said. “I just think sometimes you’re in a situation where you’re around day in and day out, things just don’t work at a particular time.”

Dombrowski also indicated that the Phillies had attempted to address Castellanos’ concerns, but ultimately felt a change of scenery was necessary. “I think that we all felt that was probably in the best interest, to have a change of scenery,” he stated.

Castellanos’ performance had been in decline since signing a five-year, $100 million contract following a strong 2021 season with the Cincinnati Reds. In 2025, he hit .240 with 17 home runs and a .694 OPS, a significant drop from his previous production. His defensive struggles also became a concern, contributing to his diminished value.

The Phillies had hoped to move Castellanos during the offseason, but were unable to find a trade partner willing to take on his salary. They ultimately signed Adolis García to a one-year, $10 million contract to replace him in right field, a move that signaled their intention to move forward without Castellanos.

“Castellanos was a minus-0.6 WAR player in 2025,” noted a team source. “Add in right field defense that borders on unplayable, and it became clear a change was needed.”

Despite the difficult ending, Dombrowski expressed appreciation for Castellanos’ contributions during his four seasons with the Phillies. “He did many good things for our organization. He was here four years. We won every year that he was here. He connected many important hits for us,” Dombrowski said.

Castellanos finished his Phillies career with a .260 batting average, a .732 OPS, and a 100 OPS+, making him a league-average hitter overall. He was an All-Star in 2023 and had several key moments in the postseason, but the fit in Philadelphia was not sustainable.

The release of Castellanos marks the end of a chapter for both the player and the Phillies, and signals a new direction for the team as they look to contend in the National League.