Report: Phillies to be ‘much more aggressive’ trying to move Nick Castellanos

The Philadelphia Phillies will have an interesting decision to make moving forward this season with veteran right fielder Nick Castellanos.

Castellanos, who played in all 162 games in 2024, has turned into a platoon player in recent weeks, splitting time with Max Kepler in right field.

You can make a strong case that right now, Castellanos is the weakest of the Phillies' five outfielders, with Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Harrison Bader, and Weston Wilson all having better slash lines in the month of August.

Phillies Outfielders Producing at a Higher Level

Potential Platoon Options for 2026

One option would be to keep Castellanos around and make him a full-time platoon player with Brandon Marsh in right field next season. This could be an option if the team brings Bader back to play center field and Justin Crawford is ready to play left field at the Major League level.

Could the Phillies Trade Nick Castellanos This Winter?

The other option would be to try and trade him, which, according to USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale is a strong possibility, adding the team will be much more aggressive trying to move him this winter, even eating a significant portion of his remaining $20 million salary.

The Phillies, who shopped outfielder Nick Castellanos last winter, will be much more aggressive trying to move him this winter, even eating a significant portion of his remaining $20 million salary.

As for the rest of the season, it seems Castellanos and Kepler will platoon in right field, with Kepler playing against right-handed pitching and Castellanos against lefties. Bader seems to have taken over the daily center field spot with Marsh facing righties and Wilson left-handed pitching as the team's left field options.