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A Philadelphia Phillies fan favorite has been released before spring training gets underway.
Veteran MLB outfielder Nick Castellano must find a new home before the start of the 2026 season after the team announced his release Thursday.
The news comes after a report from The Athletic revealed that “there is no locker in the clubhouse” for Castellanos, adding that he has been told “not to report to the team complex this week.”
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Philadelphia Phillies’ Nick Castellanos hits an RBI single in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
The reason? The Phillies are looking to get out of Castellanos’ $20 million contract, and he was expected to either be traded or released soon.
The writing has been on the wall regarding this relationship between Castellanos and the Phillies as he was reportedly set to be on a new team at the start of the 2026 season back in October when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
Then that report became more concrete when the Phillies signed Adolis Garcia after re-signing another fan favorite, Kyle Schwarber, in free agency.
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Castellanos, who turns 34 next month, struggled at court last season. He slashed .250/.294/.400 with a .694 OPS in 147 games for Philadelphia last season. He also had 17 homers and 72 RBI.
Castellanos’ .250 batting average is the lowest full-season mark of his career.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) reacts after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
His $20 million price tag doesn’t match what the Phillies want on the books for 2026, and thus his time in town appears to be over.
Castellanos has spent the past four seasons with the Phillies after signing a five-year, $100 million deal following his 2021 All-Star campaign with the Cincinnati Reds.
Castellanos earned his second All-Star appearance in 2023 when he hit 29 homers and 106 RBI over 157 games for the Phillies.
He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Detroit Tigers, making his debut in 2013 as a 21-year-old. He became a regular after that season before a 2019 trade sent him to Cincinnati before the MLB deadline.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Photos)
Now it looks like Castellanos will have to find his fifth home in the MLB, with the Phillies expected to make a decision soon.
