The Philadelphia Phillies face several major decisions this offseason, and one of the biggest centers on the future of right fielder Nick Castellanos.
Castellanos is entering the final year of his five-year, $100 million contract, and his $20 million salary has made trading him difficult — even though moving him is reportedly the club’s preferred option. As rumors continue to circulate, Castellanos appeared on MLB Network and addressed the idea of switching positions.
During the interview, he was asked whether he’d consider playing first base. The former third baseman and current outfielder said he would “really welcome” the change if the team needed it.
Nick Castellanos shares stance on moving to first base
“It was brought up to me,” Castellanos said, “and honestly, it’s something that I really welcome… if someone needs me to do that.”
The idea isn’t completely new for Castellanos. When he debuted with the Detroit Tigers, he was primarily a third baseman before transitioning to the outfield a few years into his MLB career. He has played exclusively in the outfield since 2018, mostly in right field, and his last full season in the infield came in 2017 when he logged 129 games at third base.
Now, nearly a decade later, a move back to the infield — this time at first base — could be on the table.
Why this matters for the Phillies
While the shift is surprising, it could help make Castellanos more marketable in trade talks. He has been one of the weakest defensive right fielders in the league, and the Phillies have been seeking ways to move on from him in the outfield. If teams view him as capable of playing first base, it might broaden his potential market.
His $20 million salary for 2026 remains a major obstacle, but adding positional flexibility could spark more interest from other clubs.
This comment doesn’t drastically change the Phillies’ offseason strategy, but it’s a development worth watching as they explore trade possibilities involving Castellanos.