Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports this that the Phillies told Castellanos not to report to spring training. Gelb further reported that the Phillies removed Castellanos’ photo from the hallway between the lobby and their clubhouse and that he does not have a locker.
The Phillies were expected to move on from Castellanos, either by trading him or releasing the outfielder outright. He had reportedly become a problem in the clubhouse, with coaches and teammates disgusted by comments made to manager Rob Thomson after he was removed from a match last season.
Nick Castellanos’ poor production left the Phillies in a no-win situation
Trading Castellanos was a difficult proposition at best. He was the worst player in the Majors to qualify for the batting title with -0.6 fWAR. Castellanos posted a disappointing .250/.294/.400 batting line in his 589 plate appearances, hitting 17 home runs and 27 doubles.
His mediocre offensive performance wasn’t the only hurdle to a trade. Castellanos is still $20 million in debt in the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Phillies. The combination of Castellanos’ salary, minimal production and locker room concerns torpedoed any chance the Phillies had to send him elsewhere.
Castellanos could find a new team once he is officially released by the Phillies. He had produced a solid .263/.311/.454 batting line with 52 home runs and 67 doubles in his 1,330 batting lines between 2023 and 2024. Castellanos has also hit well as a left-handed pitcher throughout his career, posting a .294/.344/.509 batting line with 76 home runs and 96 doubles in 1,732 batting lines. against left-handers. Castellanos could be on a Major League roster on opening day; it just won’t be with the Phillies.
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