The Philadelphia Phillies are heading into an offseason with a clear goal of reshaping the roster in the wake of back-to-back disappointing playoff exits in 2024 and 2025.
While Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto are priority re-signing candidates, Dave Dombrwosk and the Phillies are also likely to be active in the trade market. But, it won't be only about acquiring players; the Phillies will also look to move some away.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com identified one trade candidate for every team, and for the Phillies, $100 million All-Star outfielder Nick Castellanos was an easy choice.
Phillies likely to trade Nick Castellanos before 2026 season
"Castellanos has become a staple on every trade list," Feinsand writes, "but with one year and $20 million remaining on his contract, it seems more likely than ever that he'll be playing elsewhere by Opening Day."
The Phillies have been reportedly trying to trade Castellanos, as evidenced by Dombrowski's comments at the end of the season, which alluded to the possibility of a trade.
It makes a lot of sense for both sides. Castellanos has become disgruntled with the team after his late-season benching due to a scuffle with Rob Thomson over a defensive substitution. He's also regressed offensively, posting a.694 OPS in 2025.
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The Phillies outfielder is going to be 34 years old in 2026 and will cost the Phillies $20 million to keep him on the roster. Instead of letting him maintain his spot in right field, the Phillies should replace him in some capacity this winter.
While no move is close to happening, the chance that Castellanos is traded, or at the very least released, is very high. After the awkward end to 2025, the veteran outfielder doesn't have a role on this Phillies team going forward.
His time in Philadelphia is all but over, and as Feinsand wrote, "it seems more likely than ever" that Castellanos will play elsewhere in 2026.
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