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.
Especially Eagles…
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.
Oh go stuff it. You’ve never even been there. Please let us know what great hellhole you are from. Sad and pathetic
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.
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
This is the United States. Paychecks are always an open topic for discussion.
Yes, and contracts are sacred as well.
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.
Nick Castellanos informally requests trade after the season.
Here’s the list of teams that need a 100 OPS+ DH.
Here’s the list of teams willing to pay for that.
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.
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
The sooner we are out of the Castellanos business the better. Hope they release him if we can’t find a trade.
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.
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
Because those pitchers are also in the top level of baseball.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.