Nick Castellanos has gone from being the Phillies’ everyday right fielder into a platoon with Max Kepler, in a reflection of how both players have delivered underwhelming numbers in 2025. The change has been a little more jarring for Castellanos given his longer history with the team and longer track record as a lineup regular, and it is clear that the veteran isn’t pleased with how things have played out.
Speaking with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber and other media after yesterday’s 8-2 win over the Diamondbacks, Castellanos stressed that he is “here to do whatever I can to make sure that Philadelphia wins a World Series ring,” and that any talk that he is unhappy “would be creating a narrative.” However, he also indicated some hard feelings towards manager Rob Thomson, rhetorically asking “who says that?” when a reporter noted that Thomson has been praised for his directness by several players.
“Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience…. There’s just been times where things have been said, and then, over the course of years, I’ll have expectations because I’ll latch on to what’s being said and then actions would be different,” Castellanos said. “And then I’m kind of left just thinking and whatnot. But again, like it is what it is. Adapt, do what I can. At the end of the day we’re here to win a World Series.”
While Castellanos’ comments indicate a longer-lasting issue, the relationship between player and manager drew public attention on June 17, when Castellanos was benched for the Phillies’ 8-3 loss to the Marlins. The previous night, Thomson said Castellanos made an “inappropriate” comment after being removed from the game for defensive purposes, and the outfielder was sat out a game as punishment. Missing that June 17 contest snapped a personal streak of 236 consecutive games played for Castellanos.
As to how the two are communicating lately, Castellanos (perhaps tellingly) referenced playing time, saying “I don’t really talk to Rob all that often. I play whenever he tells me to play, and then sit whenever he tells me to sit.”
Disputes between players and managers are as old as baseball itself, so while Castellanos’ candor about the situation is newsworthy, it may not create any short-term issues within the Phillies’ clubhouse. Despite Castellanos’ displeasure, the numbers also suggest that the platoon is working — since the start of September, Kepler is hitting .263/.373/.500 over 51 plate appearances, and Castellanos is batting .323/.353/.548 in 34 PA.
Even with this recent hot streak, Castellanos has still managed only a 94 wRC+, and an overall slash line of .255/.299/.411 (with 17 homers) over 566 PA. Between his subpar offense and lackluster defense, Castellanos has been worth -0.4 fWAR this season — the second time in his four years in Philadelphia that the veteran has posted a sub-replacement performance.
All in all, Castellanos has generated 1.0 fWAR and an exactly average 100 wRC+ over his four seasons with the Phillies. It wasn’t what the team expected when signing the slugger to a five-year, $100MM free agent deal, and the final $20MM of that contract is still owed to Castellanos for the 2026 season. While that isn’t an insignificant sum for a team to just eat, it is fair to wonder if the Phillies might consider simply releasing Castellanos this winter, unless a trade can be worked out that would still very likely require the Phils to cover the bulk of the remaining salary.
For now, Castellanos is simply focused on the playoffs, and refused to consider his future with the Phillies. “Why would I do that in front of what we have ahead of us? That would be really selfish and take away from what we’re trying to do as a group….I’m here to win. [Owner] John Middleton is paying me money so that I can help the Philadelphia Phillies win a World Series,” he said.
Philly media circles a dead man walking than any bird of prey I’ve seen.
Perpetually angry town, perpetually angry reporters.
Says the individual making an angry comment. Projection is the highest form of flattery.
The comment is true but who knows maybe everyone is wrong except you
Thank you, sad. I’ve always found you to be the arbiter of truth. You’re always there for us.
It’s a Northeast thing. Philly fans are angry. New York fans are angry. Boston fans are angry. I’ve lived in the midwest, west coast, and in the Northeast. Northeast fans are some angry MFers. It’s not even comparable to the rest of the country.
I’ve lived on both coasts, as well as the UK; and I’ve witnessed less than polite behavior, including some violent, in all of these places. I know stereotypes are a real timesaver, but they’re just that, stereotypes.
@mustard – I lived in Philly and the urban NE for most of my life – traveled a bunch for work and pleasure over the years to a number of places that are stereotyped, and for the most part witnessed little to support any of the “opinionating” that goes on.
Of course there are differences in cultural attitudes everywhere. Semi-retired to the mid-South a few years ago; frankly it is ruder down here in general interactions than it is in the Northeast. People live in their own world of myth…
Oh go stuff it. You’ve never even been there. Please let us know what great hellhole you are from. Sad and pathetic
Lincecum fix your teeth!
Words of encouragement to practice better dental hygiene?
You’re either not from Philly or haven’t lived here in a long time.
That’s MY baseball!
-Philly Karen
@Never Remember – Staying on brand I see. Demonstrating once again how angry that fan base can be.
Vultures aren’t birds of prey
Actually, they are. They are mostly carrion eaters but will sometimes catch and eat small animals
And nobody better have anything bad to say about the California condor.
Man that thing is huge! A giant lunging into the air. Spooky too.
Great giant of a bird!
Like the West Sacramento A’s, critically endangered.
Knick knack is barely getting more this year than Michael Conforto.
I’m not crazy, just a little unwell, right now you can’t tell.
Knick Knack? Sounds like the old Norm Macdonald joke about the frog trying to get a loan.
Approximately $80MM paid to date for 1.4 WAR.
This is the United States. Contracts are mutually-agreed upon. A professional athlete’s paycheck shouldn’t be a talking point.
Yes it should be. If you’re going to publicly citizen your manager for taking you out for defense, maybe you should try being good.
Castellanos hasnt come within 150 OPS points of his walk year with the Reds, and has been just bad his entire time with the Phillies relative to salary.
Contracts are agreed upon, you are right, but you could also make the case that Castellanos got paid and stopped trying (based on the stats).
It’s not your money, Brixton, he can play, talk and get paid however he wants. If that conflicts with your beliefs, perhaps a country where they don’t pay their professional athletes like North Korea, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe would be a good place to take residence.
@Brixton The Phillies knew what they were getting defensively when they signed him. He’s never been good defensively.
Anthony Rendon says that is a terrible take
“It’s not your money, Brixton, he can play, talk and get paid however he wants. If that conflicts with your beliefs, perhaps a country where they don’t pay their professional athletes like North Korea, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe would be a good place to take residence.”
The internet is such a stupid F’ing place sometimes
True……But he could hit. He consistently had a High OPS+ before being signed but not so after.
That being said….I was worried from Day 1 about the signing because after 30 there tends to be regression and he was never so good that things would work out well with any regression.
This is the United States. Paychecks are always an open topic for discussion.
Yes, and contracts are sacred as well.
@hitsthem – Have you checked out the news lately?
It’s not fair to judge Nick on his defensive ability. He was a bad fielder when he was signed and was paid for his offence. Any defensive contributions would be an added bonus. His offense has pretty much been what he has offered in his pasts seasons, and his contributions vs Atlanta in the NLDS make his contract worthwhile.
Yes, a little overpaid, but he carried the offense for a large part of the last two seasons. He also carried the offense in Game 1 vs Atlanta in 2022 and Game 4 in 2023, and batting .400 vs Mets last year — he was the only one who showed up.
See, you know what he’s talking about.
Winning is everything. Stop dwelling on playing time. Your team has a chance to do something special this year.
The sooner we are out of the Castellanos business the better. Hope they release him if we can’t find a trade.
Let me print this out so I can hang it on the fridge.
The platoon conversation is simple, you both collectively suck at the plate, but if we use you in a platoon, you’re going to help the team win. Maybe that wasn’t explicitly explained to them, but whatever helps the team they’ll be on board one way or another.
Sounds like a nothing burger. Thomson is playing matchups and Castellanos is not happy to be left off the lineup card. As manager, he shouldn’t need to explain his decision every time.
Middle of a pennant run and Castellanos makes it all about him.
I certainly haven’t been a fan of Castellanos on the field, but people would be calling him a diva if he refused to take questions.
I think the problem here is he’s trying to be honest when asked the same question repeatedly. Ever since he’s been platooning, he’s asked how he feels about it after every game. Last night he hit his 250th home run. That was an afterthought for the reporters.
It makes sense – they want a catchy headline to run, and they know he wants to be honest with his thoughts. I feel if he had gone out of his way to create a stink he’d be making it about himself.
“Congrats on home run 250, Nick!”
“IT’D BE 300 IF I WASN’T IN A PLATOON!” is what I’d consider being selfish, and I’m a guy who will be happy when his contract is up.
I get that and I certainly empathize. But he has to know how those comments are gonna be taken. Something like “I want to play everyday because I’m a competitor but I’m here to win” would work better. Going in on the coach is bad IMO. Not the time for that.
Very much agree
Nick is a complex guy, and the clubhouse really appreciates him because he is also a really good guy. He is honest, he has a different take on things than a lot of athletes, doesn’t have much of a filter and wears his heart on his sleeve. He doesn’t really know how to play the PR game and comes across badly at times with the media.
Yes we overpaid him, and knew that up front. And he has under-performed what they hoped to get as well, but hardly by design. Chances are his ticket is punched over the winter – it happens. I will remember him fondly, even as we had hoped for more. Managing a group of professional athletes ain’t easy for anyone.
I see it as completely contrary to your statement, he was asked a question about playing time…he answered it like anyone would – I’m not happy on the bench. He then went out of his way multiple times during the interview to say he’d do whatever necessary to aid the team in getting a ring.
I hear ya but he went IN on the coach that’s toxic stuff this time of year.
You forgot to list the Colorado Rockies.
The Angels will probably trade for him
His name screams angels because Philly would want to salary dump and arte Moreno would see it as a free player
Castellanos has always been a bozo
Seems odd that athletes are in the top level of baseball and they can’t hit against both right and left-handed pitchers. Why are we promoting these athletes?
Squaring up a round object with another round object in less than a second while someone is demonstrating the beauty of physics and air resistants Ina form of voodoo. This is beyond petulantly asinine
@El Eduardo
You dodged the point.
Yes, hitting is hard; that’s why MLB supposedly represents the very best. If you’re carrying a negative WAR corner outfielder who can’t handle both LHP and RHP, then you’re rewarding incomplete skill sets while more versatile players may never get a chance.
Platoon specialization lowers the overall standard of what we define as “elite.” If MLB players can only hit one side of the platoon split, are they really among the best 750 in the world? Or are they artificially being propped up by roster mechanics and contract sunk costs?
Nobody disputes hitting a baseball is hard. The issue is, if you’re paid $100M, the bar shouldn’t be ‘hard, so we excuse it.’ The bar should be: can you produce against both sides? Otherwise you’re not a complete MLB hitter — you’re a role player being promoted as a star.
Because those pitchers are also in the top level of baseball.
@bhambrave
This is a truism. Of course they are. But it ignores the fact that plenty of MLB hitters do succeed against both sides.
Look at Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Juan Soto — all stars, all hit both LHP and RHP. The elite separate themselves by neutralizing splits. That’s what makes them elite.
Castellanos, Kepler, and similar platoon bats? They’re replacement-level precisely because they can’t. So the real question isn’t “why is hitting hard?” but “why are we paying sub-replacement guys superstar money?”
In Castellanos’ case: 94 wRC+ and -0.4 WAR in 2025. That’s not “top level.” That’s below-average.
Yes, pitchers are great — but so are plenty of hitters who succeed against both. That’s what earns elite status. Hiding behind platoon splits is admitting someone isn’t complete. At that point, they’re a liability, not a promotion of the best talent.
Send him and about $10M to ATL. Always respected his toughness. Can platoon with Baldwin as DH next season.
That’s a terrible idea.
No, please no.
So you’d pay $10M for a league average, weak side of a platoon bat? The guy’s a defensive nightmare, so he’d also bring less than zero help as a 4th of’er. Hard pass.
DH in his twilight against LHPs probably only gets 5mil max picked up for ’26 by a suitor.
Castellanos is under contract only thru 2026 — and his agent is Scott Boras.
I see a salary dump by the Phillies over the coming winter.
Very little chance of it happening. For one thing, they’re in the same division.
How about you just play out the last week and the playoffs and not start any drama for the team. You were overpaid to be in Philly and it’s clear your a circus in the outfield.
The Phillies and Castellanos agreed to sign a contract. Not sure about the “overpay” part, that’s on the Phillies.
As soon as Bader goes ice cold. They’ll go back to Castellanos F.T.
And sits whenever he tells me to SIT….that sounds like a line from the movie Shawshank Redemption
I love Castellanos. He’s a different kind of character in general. It seems he’d come across like this to reporters and fans in any city he played in regardless of how well or poorly he was performing.
And with that said, if Castellanos feels the communication is lacking between himself and Topper, I’d be inclined to believe Castellanos is simply a hard person to communicate much of anything to.
All in all, I think he’s handled himself fairly well for having his playing time reduced (and rightfully so). I was concerned he’d make a noticeable stink about it, and begin to fracture the unity of the clubhouse. But aside from his personal issue with Thompson over “communication,” it seems he’s adapted the proper, and professional approach of focusing on what he can control while remaining committed to the team and its sole goal of winning the World Series.
I’m getting ahead of myself, but I hope he manages to come up with some key hits in the playoffs. As a Castellanos fan, it’d be nice to see.
Kruk, you’re way too reasonable, calm, and as a matter of fact. Are you sure you belong on this site?!!!!!
Nick C. is my least favorite player in all of baseball. His big mouth burns bridges everywhere he goes. Good bat (until lately), poor defense, too much drama. Classless individual.
Now, here’s someone who belongs on this site
He said she said.
No place for this in baseball.
Man up.
Castellanos might stink, but he’s ready to go out there and stink everyday
Poor Nick…
Poor Braves (literally)
I think it’s in the best interest for both Philadelphia and Castellanos that they either trade him or simply release him.
I’m hardly a Castellanos apologist, but I applaud his candor. Phillies are a situation where the GM has put together a pretty stacked line up. I think their success has more to do w/the GM putting together the deck of cards than Thompsons ability to play those cards. Castellanos is on his way out, and for all we know Thompson might be too.
You want the Phillies to get rid of the skipper who’s just won them the NL East over the spendthrift Mets.
Be careful for what you wish.
Ok then. Nick rolls as a lone wolf. Cool, matter of fact comments if you are talking to some mates at a bar. Media right before the finals is questionable. In saying that, he is probably confidant the clubhouse is perfectly ok with Nick being Nick.
I think Nick is saying all the right things. 2 problems: 1. His numbers have been better since entering into the platoon. 2. Fans and media are attempting to turn his unhappy body language into suggesting he’s a problem. He’s handling everything appropriately.
I’m a Phillies fan and I don’t think this is that bad. What athlete wouldn’t be upset by having their playing time reduced? He should’ve avoided the comments about Thomson, but why are reporters fishing for comments like this after a game where Nick made a significant positive contribution?
The team should be looking to get rid of Nick this offseason, but in the meantime, the people around him shouldn’t try to provoke him into creating drama
I’m a Phillies fan and can’t tell you how excited I was when they signed Nick. But watching him the last few years I am completely disappointed. Zero plate discipline until the count gets to 0-2 or 1-2. I think he’s a great guy and want so bad to see him do well but I’ll be surprised if he returns in 2026. I expect the Phillies to eat $6-10M of next year’s contract.
Castellanos is pissed but he earned his way to the short side of the platoon.
Next is pinch hitter/bench player. Then off the roster.
He should just play better. He’ll probably feel better, too.
Simple- he hits mistakes off Tier 3 pitchers. Otherwise it’s strike 3 on balls in the dirt or Sunday chopper to 3rd for a double play.
He’s a strange dude too.
He’s always been a whiner. Very entitled player and not willing to get better at defense or improve plate discipline. I’m glad Thomson is doing what he’s doing.
Nick Castellanos has never gotten the respect he deserves from the Philly sports media, and their negative public attitude about Castellanos has influenced people’s opinion of him. The negativity has also opened the door for Thompson to treat him like a rookie. Moreover, it has adversely affected Nick’s play.
Nick has always been on the outside looking in in Philly. He has never been a part of the Harper and Schwarber cheerleading squad. Instead, he has just come to work on time every day and did his job to the best of his ability. He’s a hard-nosed ball player, cut from a different cloth than most of his teammates.
Although he has gotten a bum rap for alleged defensive inadequacies, based on his inability to get a quicker jump on balls and not get to them as quickly as more fleet outfielders might, he has still maintained a nearly perfect fielding average since coming to Philly and won games for the Phils with diving catches and strong pinpoint throws. He has also been criticized for poor hitting, although he carried the Phils offensively for the first half of the season, and only started to lapse when Thompson stopped treating him with the respect a veteran and former all-star requires and deserves.
Nick’s demotion is politically based, and more likely a directive from the front office than a rare instance of independent thinking on Thompson’s part. Pure and simple, the Phils’ brass need money to build a war chest to get Schwarber to stay in Philly, and they see Castellanos as expendable. Reducing his playing time now is a clear message of things to come, or more clearly, of money saved with Castellanos out the door. Even if the Phils have to pay half his salary when they trade him this offseason, they’ll still have $10 million more to offer Schwarber. Reducing Nick’s playing time today is also an opportunity to gauge the Phils’ outfield of tomorrow.
With the emergence of Bader, dramatically improved play of Marsh, and Crawford’s availability, the Phils already have the nucleus of a formidable outfield for 2026. What’s more, they will have an outfield that will be theoretically more proficient defensively, and certainly one that will be more exciting to watch than one that has Castellanos playing in it.
However, Bader will require $10 million to stay, and Realmuto will require $20-$25 million to resign, and both will require multi-year contracts. Most of their teammates will require substantial raises. This is all the more reason the Phils will need whatever money they can salvage from Castellanos’ 2026 contract.
Although the press is starting to buzz about Harper returning to the outfield to open the door for Pete Alonso to play first base with the Phils, such a scenario is unlikely. Harper’s outfield days are over, and if the Phils do sign Alonso to play first, it will be because Harper has taken over the DH spot from Schwarber who has been overpaid to join another team for more years than the Phils would be willing to add to his next contract. If Schwarber is smart, he will sign his next contact with the Red Sox, not only because they will pay him more and longer than the Phils are willing to, but because he hits very well in Boston, which should be an important consideration for an older player.
At the end of the season, Schwarber, Realmuto, Suarez, Bader, Robertson, and Castellanos may all be gone. So may Topper Thompson. Dombrowski will have to return to the drawing board to construct the Phils next powerhouse, as well as its field management. Of the lot, Castellanos may be the most difficult to replace – not necessarily because of what he did while playing in Philly, but because of what he might have done under more favorable circumstances.
“Although he has gotten a bum rap for alleged defensive inadequacies, based on his inability to get a quicker jump on balls and not get to them as quickly as more fleet outfielders might, he has still maintained a nearly perfect fielding average since coming to Philly and won games for the Phils with diving catches and strong pinpoint throws.”
And cost them runs and games by not getting to balls most other OFers would
“He has also been criticized for poor hitting, although he carried the Phils offensively for the first half of the season, ”
He had a 105 wRC+ in the first half. Very much inline with his first 3 seasons in Philadelphia.
I don’t agree with, or like, the character assassination from afar of baseball players from fans. I ignore it for the most part
Castellanos has not been a productive player on the field in Philadelphia. They team is almost certainly better without him
juan, No character assassination implied or intended. Like everyone else on this site, just rendering observations and opinions. Baseball, like every other professional sport is a business, and is usually run like one. Calling it out is just calling it out. It is what it is.
otb
I didn’t mean you were engaged in the charter assassination. Others certainly are
“… a bum rap for alleged defensive inadequacies…”
If he’s not last in Statcast defensive metrics, he’s bottom 10. Not alleged, fact.
And that closing statement is out-of-tune with your otherwise astute observations.
Aside from that, nice work.
ko, Statistical analysis notwithstanding, Castellanos is not a fleet outfielder. He never has been. So, why are the Phils playing him in right field? Wouldn’t he have helped them more in left field all these years?
hits, Having closely watched him play, I feel playing Castellanos in left field would have played more to his defensive strengths. Probably the only reason he has been played in right so long is because of his cannon arm. The move wouldn’t have made him any different, but it would probably have improved his defensive stats and allowed the Phils to play a quicker player in right field.
soto, I don’t smoke. You should probably stop.
Can’t believe all the Phillies posters are down on Castellanos who carried the Phillies offense last year and parts of other years with the Phillies. And, from what I have seen of Castellanos diving for balls, putting his body and career on the line for balls every night in the OF, I think Phillies fans are under appreciative of how hard that man is playing for your team and how he risks serious injury and future earnings every night for the Phillies in his deep hunger and desire for a World Series Trophy for Philadelphia and the Phillies.
This is what AI says about Castellanos:
In the 2024 MLB season, Nick Castellanos played in 162 games for the Philadelphia Phillies, batting .254 with 134 hits, 24 home runs, 97 RBIs, and 99 runs scored. He started every game and set the record for the longest errorless streak by an NL position player.
Whenever I see Phillies games or highlights in the pennant race and in the playoffs, I see a blue collar player, getting his uniform dirty, diving for and making great catches, taking the extra base for his team, getting clutch hits and more.
Have never heard Castellanos whine or complain about the manager putting him in the more demanding defensive position of RF every night.
If the stats heads, the Phillies announcers, the Phillies decisionmakers, the online keyboard managers don’t like Castellanos in RF, then lobby to have the Phillies play Castellanos in the less demanding defensive position of LF.
Why is CF Brandon Marsh playing in LF?!
Logically, if the team is worried about and not happy with Castellanos playing RF, then move him to LF. He is former third baseman.
If Castellanos’s stats are on defense are not as high as you want, then stop playing him in RF.
Most teams with 2 CFs play them in RF and CF, NOT LF.
Give Castellanos credit, he did not complain, or make a big fuss about the manager and the team playing him out of position in RF
when the team has at least two CFs and they should be playing their better defenders in CF and RF AND NOT IN LF
It is very likely that Castellanos’s defensive stats would be better in LF.
If the Phillies are looking to move on from Castellanos in the offseason and want to pay some of his contract, then I can see some other teams that would take a flyer on him like the Padres who will be losing a few hitters to free agency like O’Hearn and Arraez
Castellanos was like 0 for the LCS in ’23. Maybe bench warmer is the position most suited for him as the playoffs ramp up
sportsfan, Well said. It’s nice to see someone on this board whose IQ exceeds his body temperature.
Hot topic. But frankly the questions were a bit jarring. Nick doesn’t suffer silently. Some players in Philly get the hot line to the front office and others do not. The expendables will play as they are told and figure it out. Enjoy the ride. Work for the ring. And if next year it’s a different city so be it. It doesn’t always work out the way we hope it will.
burner, the inmates have been running the asylum ever since Harper joined the team and immediately staged his coup d’etat. During that time, the Phils’ favorite sons have gotten their way with the front office, while the blue-collar workers, like Nick Castellanos, have been told when to jump and how high. It was not a matter of if, but when, Castellanos would finally tell his bosses that enough was enough. When he did, he was promptly shown the bench. Given the political environment in the Philly clubhouse, Castellanos will probably request a trade shortly after the Phils’ season abruptly ends in disappointment a few weeks from now, and the Phils will undoubtedly be holding on to the short end of the stick when they trade the man. When the Phils finally realize that Schwarber, Realmuto, Suarez, Bader, Robertson, and Castellanos have to be replaced, they’ll quickly discover that they have more money than viable options to improve the team before the 2026 season begins. Castellanos is a throwback to a bygone era when real men played the game of baseball. He is also the kind of player the Phils need more of, and not the kind of player the Phils can afford to lose. I have closely followed Nick’s entire career and been very disappointed by the way he has been treated, disrespected, and maligned by his team and the local news media during his stay in Philly. I will continue pulling for the guy wherever he plays in 2026 and beyond. It’s a shame it probably won’t be in Philly.
There aren’t many who have a say in anything in Philly honestly. If you noticed the recent pole of players in the Athletic that Philly was one of the least likely to want to play for. That is why I don’t see #12 coming back in free agency. Analytics ruined a lot. Managers plug and play. Coaches get more out of players. Philly has a manager. Not a coach.