At this stage, the Phillies aren’t disguising what’s coming.
They’re managing when it happens.
Position players are set to report for their first official workout Monday in Clearwater. That date no longer feels arbitrary. It’s a deadline — one they’ve set themselves, openly recognized and, if you listen carefully, practically emphasized in bold by the president of baseball operations.
Nick Castellanos is not supposed to walk into that clubhouse as part of the 2026 Phillies.
And if he does, it will only be because the last resort — the one they are clearly prepared to use — hasn’t yet been executed.
Dave Dombrowski made that plain this week without ever saying the word “release.”
“That’s our focus prior to the start of spring training,” Dombrowski said. “We’re doing everything we can to make a move by that time period. I’ll leave it at that right now.”
Front offices don’t speak that candidly unless they’ve already accepted the uncomfortable possibility.
Here’s the reality around the league: the Phillies hold little leverage. Castellanos is heading into the final year of his five-year, $100 million contract, with $20 million due in 2026. He turns 34 next month. In 2025, he batted .250 with 17 home runs and a .694 OPS over 147 games — reliable in terms of availability, but below league average in overall output.
Advanced metrics graded him at negative WAR last season. His defensive numbers in right field again ranked near the bottom of the league. And the Phillies have already secured his successor, signing Adolis García to a one-year deal to serve as the everyday right fielder.
Functionally, the split has already occurred.
What remains is the formal step.
That’s why the notion of Castellanos reporting to camp and battling for playing time doesn’t hold up. There’s no obvious role for him — not on a team built with World Series ambitions. Not one that sidesteps daily scrutiny about last year’s benching, his public comments about Rob Thomson’s communication, or whether a veteran in a contract year is fully invested or simply riding it out.
The Phillies doubled down on Thomson with a contract extension this winter. They reinforced the position Castellanos once filled. Kyle Schwarber occupies the designated hitter spot. There’s no natural landing place.
And contenders don’t allow tension to linger in the clubhouse if they can avoid it.
So what options remain?
A trade would be ideal, even if only to offload part of the $20 million owed. But every team understands the Phillies’ position. If Philadelphia is prepared to cut him, another club can wait, sign him for the league minimum, and let the Phillies shoulder nearly the entire salary.
That’s why this feels less like trade talks and more like a ticking clock.
Yes, the Phillies would prefer to save some money.
But they’re even more motivated to eliminate a potential distraction.
That’s the heart of it. This isn’t about extracting value from a declining player. It’s about clearing space before camp opens — ensuring that when position players take the field Monday, the focus isn’t diverted.
If a trade happens before then, it will mean someone relented.
If not, the Phillies seem ready to take the straightforward, unsentimental route: release him, absorb the cost, and proceed with the roster they’ve already assembled.
At this point, the question isn’t whether Nick Castellanos fits in Philadelphia.
It’s whether the Phillies are prepared to pay to ensure he doesn’t.
