Phillies signing Rangers' Adolis Garcia forces $20M decision on $100M 2-time All-Star veteran

Hunter Cookston

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Phillies signing Rangers' Adolis Garcia forces $20M decision on $100M 2-time All-Star veteran image

The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to compete for a World Series while their championship window remains open. However, that could require making some difficult roster decisions, and one of them may involve veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos. That possibility became more apparent after the Phillies were eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“The Phillies are expected to either trade or release the veteran outfielder, club sources have said. Dombrowski’s reluctance to say anything about Castellanos on Thursday affirmed that stance. When asked about Castellanos, Dombrowski said he could not comment on ‘specific players that are on our roster under contract,’ then spent the next 34 minutes doing just that,” The Athletic’s Matt Gelb wrote.

During the winter meetings, however, Castellanos reportedly drew little to no trade interest. If the Phillies are unable to move him, they will either have to keep him on the roster or eat the remaining $20 million on his contract.

“If Dombrowski can't find a trade for the outfielder, they may end up releasing Castellanos. The Phillies would like to avoid doing that. However, if they and the outfielder want to move on, it may be the only choice to resolve the situation,” TBOH’s Matt Grazel wrote.

On Monday, the Phillies made it clear that Castellanos is no longer part of their future plans by signing Adolis García.

“Just in case there was any doubt at all that Nick Castellanos won't be returning to the Phillies, they just handed his starting right field to Adolis Garcia on his one-year, $10 million deal. Castellanos is owed $20 million in 2026,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale posted.

The writing appears to be on the wall for Castellanos. After the 2024 season, this is not how his tenure in Philadelphia seemed destined to end. However, following one of the worst seasons of his career in 2025, the Phillies’ urgency to win has taken priority.

Signing García was a smart move for Philadelphia, especially if they believe he can rebound. If he does, the Phillies could have a reliable contributor for the next two to three seasons beyond 2026.

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