Nick Castellanos. Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Phillies' disappointing Nick Castellanos era officially comes to an end

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 6:11 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies had to address whether to release or trade outfielder Nick Castellanos.

That question has finally been answered, with the Phillies deciding to release the two-time All-Star on Thursday afternoon, per a team announcement. In wake of the move, Castellanos released a few letters — one to the Philadelphia fans, and another that detailed the “Miami incident,” in which he brought a beer into the dugout.

Castellanos was on the trade block all offseason, and the Phillies were never able to find a trade partner because of his high salary ($20 million) and disappointing play. In four seasons in Philadelphia, Castellanos batted .260 with an OPS of .732 with 82 home runs in 602 games.

Castellanos also underperformed as an outfielder, posting a -9 defensive runs saved. The Phillies will be on the hook to pay Castellanos all $20 million of his salary for this season.

Nick Castellanos wrote a thank you to Philadelphia and also a note explaining his side of the "Miami Incident", where he says he brought a beer in the dugout after being benched pic.twitter.com/sURZo2Fi5O
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 12, 2026

Nick Castellanos should give any team he lands on a decent veteran bat with playoff experience

Castellanos has been a solid bat during his career (posting a .272 career average), and a change of scenery could help him bounce back. He could provide extra depth to a team's bench and outfield. Castellanos is owed the major-league minimum of $780,000, meaning every team can afford him.

Teams like the Colorado Rockies, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Miami Marlins and his former club, the Cincinnati Reds, could use his bat in the lineup. The Reds, in particular, could benefit from reuniting with Castellanos. His walk year with the Reds (2021) was the best season of his career (.309 average, .939 OPS).

The Marlins are also an option for Castellanos, as he is a Florida native and resides there. With spring training games set to begin soon, Castellanos could find a new home relatively quickly.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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