The Philadelphia Phillies appear headed for a significant roster shakeup this winter. Between potentially losing veterans to free agency and the expected arrivals of top prospects like Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter, major changes seem inevitable.
One move that has long been anticipated is Nick Castellanos’ exit. With a $20 million salary on the books for 2026, Philadelphia has been actively trying to move the veteran outfielder. But according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, those efforts have gone nowhere. Passan notes that although the Phillies have made calls across the league, “Philadelphia has tried to trade Nick Castellanos and his $20 million salary… So far, no bites.”
It’s not surprising. Castellanos’ contract is difficult to move after the season he just had. Beyond his inconsistent performance, his confrontation with manager Rob Thomson after being pulled for a defensive replacement created friction within the organization and among fans. That incident only added to the urgency of finding him a new home.
On the field, Castellanos struggled in 2025, ranking among the poorest defenders in baseball while hitting .250 with a .694 OPS and posting -0.8 bWAR. Given that level of production, it’s understandable why other clubs haven’t shown interest in taking on his contract.
To get a deal done, the Phillies would likely need to absorb part of his remaining salary or include a prospect. Dave Dombrowski, however, is not expected to attach young talent just to offload Castellanos.
With Passan’s report, the odds of completing a trade look increasingly slim. Philadelphia may still find a taker, but unless something changes, the Phillies could be forced to release their 33-year-old outfielder rather than move him via trade.