The Philadelphia Phillies’ offseason has been defined as much by lingering questions as by roster additions, and few loom larger than the future of All-Star outfielder Nick Castellanos. Despite months of trade chatter and reported efforts to move his contract, Philadelphia has yet to find a deal that sticks. Still, with Opening Day approaching and the Phillies focused on maximizing payroll flexibility, Castellanos remains a name to watch on the trade market. One potential landing spot that continues to surface is Colorado, where a change of scenery—and environment—could benefit both sides.
The Phillies have reportedly explored trading Castellanos throughout the entire offseason, but no agreement has materialized so far. That hasn’t stopped speculation, however, as Philadelphia could remain active in trying to move the veteran outfielder and the remaining money on his deal. Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly recently suggested the Rockies as a possible trade partner before the season begins, pointing to both roster fit and financial considerations.
Earlier this offseason, Castellanos made it known he would be willing to play first base if a team asked him to, adding to his positional versatility. Colorado currently projects left-handed hitters at designated hitter, first base, and right field, but Castellanos’ ability to move around defensively could still earn him consistent at-bats. Playing half his games at Coors Field could also help reignite his bat, especially considering he posted an .839 OPS in the second half of the 2024 season.
The Rockies have been linked to Castellanos for months, largely because of their perceived willingness to absorb his contract if a prospect is included in the deal. That possibility could appeal to Philadelphia, which has the outfield depth to move on and may be open to attaching a young player to facilitate a trade. Keeping Castellanos would likely leave the Phillies with an extremely expensive platoon bat, an inefficient allocation of resources for a team with championship aspirations. From Philadelphia’s perspective, there are simply better ways to use that money as they continue shaping a roster built to contend.