It appears the Nick Castellanos era in Philadelphia is coming to a close. Reporting yesterday indicated that the Phillies plan to either trade or release Castellanos this winter, ahead of the final season of his five-year contract with the club, following a year where he clashed with club manager Rob Thomson and struggled to produce at the plate or in the field. It remains to be seen whether Castellanos will be traded or released to sign somewhere else on the league minimum, but either way, it seems likely at this point that his next MLB game will come in a different uniform. Which team fits him best? A look at some of the most intriguing landing spots:
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians are perhaps the most straightforward fit for Castellanos available. They’ve already made clear they hope to upgrade their outfield mix. As a club without much money to spend most years, the fact that Castellanos could be had for a fraction of his salary (or perhaps even the league minimum) has to be enticing. Lackluster as Castellanos’s production was this year, he could be a good fit for a club that produced a wRC+ of just 70 from right field this year between players like Nolan Jones and Jhonkensy Noel. Castellanos perhaps fits best as a DH given his poor defensive abilities, but that opportunity could be available to him as well with Kyle Manzardo likely to take over first base duties after being blocked by Josh Naylor and Carlos Santana in previous years.
Kansas City Royals
Sticking in the AL Central, Castellanos would be an interesting fit for the Royals as well. Kansas City has struggled to find any sort of production in the outfield for years now. This past year, they got a 69 wRC+ (30th in MLB) from right field with a 75 wRC+ (29th in MLB) from left field. Castellanos would surely provide a major upgrade to either of those spots and is capable of playing every day if needed, which would be a step in the right direction for a team that has too often needed to platoon all around the roster recently. One major flaw with Castellanos’s fit in Kansas City, however, is the presence of Salvador Perez. Perez is expected to remain with the Royals next year, whether via club option or a fresh deal, and started 66 games at either DH or first base this year. Any first base starts would push Vinnie Pasquantino to DH, meaning that Castellanos would have to play the field frequently to be a fit for Kansas City’s roster.
San Diego Padres
The Padres might seem like an odd fit for Castellanos’s services at first glance, but San Diego has frequently had to get creative with some of its additions in recent years to balance its budget while filling holes in the roster. That figures to be true once again this winter, with both Dylan Cease and Michael King leaving major holes in the rotation as they head into free agency. Starting pitching figures to be the focus for the Padres this winter, which leaves the club to replace Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn in the lineup at DH on what might be a shoestring budget.
Enter Castellanos, who won’t cost much but could capably handle regular duties at DH while also potentially spelling Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramon Laureano in the outfield corners. San Diego hasn’t been afraid to take risks on players in need of a rebound in the past. While not all of those shots have landed, they have found success with some, such as Gavin Sheets. If there’s a flaw with Castellanos’s fit in San Diego, it’s perhaps that Sheets played just 13 games at first base this year and the club might view him as their DH headed into the offseason.
Other Options
These teams aren’t the only ones for whom Castellanos would make sense, though they are perhaps the best fits. The Cubs are about to lose Kyle Tucker to free agency but they could slide Seiya Suzuki into the outfield more often, opening the DH spot for Moises Ballesteros. Guys like Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara are also around to bolster the outfield mix and are probably better than Castellanos at this point anyway. The Diamondbacks could use Castellanos as a right-handed complement to their heavily left-handed outfield and DH mix, but he might be able to do better than a pure bench role and Blaze Alexander might be better suited for that job anyway. Perhaps the Rangers could sign Castellanos to share time with Joc Pederson at DH and back up lefty outfielders like Evan Carter and Alejandro Osuna if they end up non-tendering Adolis Garcia, though even if that happens they might still prefer to try to reunite with him at a lower price point, given his superior defense. The Pirates got very little production from their offense last year but would be a better fit if Andrew McCutchen departs the club. The Giants got minimal production from right field this year but Rafael Devers is likely to be their everyday DH next year.
Where do MLBTR readers think Castellanos would fit best in 2026? Have your say in the poll below:
Korea
chief – I picked “DH’ because he’s really bad on defense.
He’s really bad at hitting too! Just throw balls down and away and he will reach out and swing. Whether he hits it is rare.
But except for issues with HItting, Fielding, Running, and the lack of being a team player….He is a well rounded and excellent addition to any team. (He whined to the Team owner about being pulled for a Defensive Sub.)
What about Korea?
Stein – Korea is back with the Astros ;O)
That would be is Seoul option.
Reds
I laughed
The Giants. The OTHER Giants. Shuuto hitting here we go !
Miami or Cincy. The later because he had success there in the past, but the former I’m deluding myself into believing in hope that they take half his contract to appease the MLBPA.
A HARD no to Cincy. He’s a horrible OFer and declining at the dish. Not a great clubhouse guy either.
That’s why the Reds hired Terry Francona, there’s your “clubhouse guy”, right?
Been there, done that. He was great in one of his two years with the Reds but appears to be on the decline. He also pulled the same bs in Cincy as he did with the Phillies for being taken out for a defensive replacement.
If they release him and the reds could get him for league minimum, it wouldnt be the dumbest thing the reds have done.
Reds are going to go all in on Schwarber
The Reds probably have the $ to make one moderate big signing or multiple smaller signings. My guess is Schwarber is ready to come home and will sign with the Reds if they can get somewhere reasonably close to his best offers.
They’ll still come up short.
I’d guess he stays in Philly.
BiG J- WAKE UP, WAKE Up, you were having a dream.
I’d love to have him back in Cincy for a year or two
BRM-Me too. Resign Andujar, sign Catellanos and see what Littell would take to stay.
Somehow still the Phillies
Is that one of the KBO team names?
One of the dregs of baseball, like the White Sox or Rockies, where the high altitude might add a few points to his BA and his home run count.
Someone said Angels yesterday and I can’t unsee it.
Thought crossed my mind. He’s a cheap pickup, but this only happens if they trade Soler or PM actually goes after a better player.
The Angels really need pitching, so I do expect they continue their trend of ignoring that problem and add another bat.
No, they have Soler and Trout and even the Angels aren’t quite THAT dumb.
BUT…
They WILL sign Sorotka and Corbin to 1-year deals and declare that their rotation is now ready to compete.
I didn’t think of it until you mentioned it and you are right. It’s the perfect fit.
Angels. because that is what they do.
Harper & Castellanos for Yoshida, Hicks, & Casas.
Harper at 1st base (he will address one of the Red Sox’s poorest performing positions in 2025) and Castellanos at DH (another poor performing position in 2025, but not as bad as 1st base).
Casas is an intriguing young player that has yet to live up to his potential and is controllable for 3 more years. It could be a huge win for the Philly’s if he turns out to be a 30/100 guy even if he plays marginal defense at 1st base. And they move on from Harper’s and Castellanos’ salaries.
Harper will be a Phillies for the rest of his career with maybe a stop or 2 if he still wants to play after his contract is up at age 40ish
kev, Chisel this in stone – Bryce Harper will not retire in a Phillies uniform. My guess is that he will demand to be traded to the Athletics when they finally reach Las Vegas, and may even become a part-owner of the franchise. Of course, if the Phils veer off his preferred course in the next few years, he may demand to be traded sooner.
haaaaaaaaaaaa! wait what???
What makes you think the A’s would take on that salary? I know Harper is from Las Vegas, but his contract would take up 30% of their payroll. He cannot become part owner (if that happens) until AFTER he retires.
I assume you are chiseling in sandstone on this one.
As a thought experiment I like this way of thinking. It has David Beckham vibes and he’s a good comp for Harper in many ways.
angel, Don’t underestimate what Harper is capable of doing. He has had extraordinarily good counseling his entire life. He quit high school and got his GED so he could play juco ball and get to the pros quicker. How many other players have done that? Did you ever wonder what made the A’s decide on Las Vegas, Harper’s home? If there is an understanding that Harper might buy into the A’s after he is finished playing, his salary for the last few years of his career wouldn’t matter. This, of course, is all speculation on my part, but speculation based on what seems reasonable. Harper may or may not end his playing days with the A’s and may or may not become an owner or employed member of the front office of the A’s or some other team, but I’m fairly certain he won’t retire in a Phillies uniform. His recent push to rewrite his contract with the Phils was to ensure he would retire in Philly, or so Harper told the press. Maybe making a big deal out of something he realized the Phils organization would be unwilling to do was really a part of an exit strategy. I think Harper has seen the handwriting on the wall and realized his promises to get all his friends to join the Phils and bring championships to Philly may not happen anytime soon – if at all. That’s why Harper may be the one who wants out of Philly, and not necessarily the Phils’ ownership. Chisel it it stone, youngster – Harper will not retire in a Phillies uniform. Live and learn.
onthebucks – I can say this.
Your thoughts are at least entertaining! Please say hello to the aliens out there with you in area 51.
You do realize that even discussing a possible ownership stake while he is playing, let alone under contract with another organization is prohibited.
Before you say it….
Should he be traded, it is highly likely that the Phillies would be paying a portion of his contract, therefore he still cannot entertain it, nor be entertained by it.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Bryce Harper is all about winning, and the A’s are far from a consistent winning organization and adding a big contract would handcuff them even more.
Your sandstone etchings are already fading.
bucks – So you’re implying (seriously) that the A’s chose Las Vegas as their destination so they could lure a 30-whatever year old Bryce Harper to demand a trade to them? Along with his $25ish million per year salary? Are you good?
Please tell me this is a running joke…..it is either that or you are a Red Sox fan who clearly over values Sox players.
Phil’s are NOT trading Harper! If they were, they sure would want more than an “intriguing” player plus two others players that clearly not living up to their contracts.
Hicks for Castellanos….maaaaaaaybe
Yeah, 2222 does seem to possess blatant team bias in tree proposal comments to the point it seems like a joke. Or maybe 222 is a young adolescent. In that case, carry on youngin’ !
Paddyo: Young adolescent is the vibe. Smart kid who ripped off a friend in a fantasy league, but doesn’t realize silly spins explaining how lopsided trades he’d never accept in other’s position do not get accepted among pro execs with functioning brain cells.
A & CWS – The Red Sox can just wait until DD releases Castellanos and pick him up for min salary. Just like what Philly did with Buehler. Lol
Anytime you propose a trade and feel the need to justify it.
You should just hit cancel. The baseball gods are telling you DO NOT press POST COMMENT
angel, Talk of the Phils trading Harper has been all over the news since the Phils got eliminated from the playoffs. Of course, Harper has a no-trade clause in his contract, but how many years do you think he’s going to put up with not winning a championship before he demands a trade to save face?
“Put up with”? Harper was capable of being a difference maker when DBacks knocked them off couple years ago or beating LAD in close games this year. Nats won as soon as he left. He is part of collective reason Phillies have been very good and also why the offense has let them down in playoffs.
are you a troll? i have not heard one mention of Harper trade talks and i watch MLB Network almost every day
The Phils should probably include Wheeler and Painter to sweeten the deal cuz otherwise 3 scrubs for Harper might be considered one-sided.
Otherwise this deal is so fetch and as Regina George said “fetch” is not gonna happen.
Zink – Turner is the cornerstone of the Phillies and Schwarber should also be considered another cornerstone. They must resign him.
Harper’s stats over the past 4 years:
22: 63 Rs, 18 HRs, 65 RBIs
23: 84 Rs, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs
24: 85 Rs, 30 HRs, 87 RBIs
25: 72 Rs, 27 HRs, 75 RBIs
Schwarber’s stats over the past 4 years:
22: 100 Rs, 46 HRs, 94 RBIs
23: 108 Rs, 47 HRs, 104 RBIs
24: 110 Rs, 38 HRs, 104 RBIs
25: 111 Rs, 56 HRs, 132 RBIs
DD is going to trade Harper so he can free up cash to sign Schwarber.
Those are some pretty incomplete stats.
Something a bit more comprehensive
Player wRC+, fWAR 2022 to 2025
Harper 139, 14.7
Schwarber 133, 11.4
Harper has been more productive in 3/4 the playing time
Always take the field
Nah, just DH
More specifically, the field of KBO teams.
I believe his best fit is on a rebuilding team that has an outfield prospect in their system projected to be ready by July. If he plays well the team can trade him for something useful and if he doesnt they can simply release him
That would be Cleveland. No real OF and Delauter if healthy likely will be very much ready then. Though Cleveland not exactly a rebuilding team.
Cleveland was a playoff team last year. Why risk him playing poorly on a team trying to win?
Or Arizona with Waldschmidt. I don’t think rebuilding is the right term to use. A truly rebuilding team would just let the prospect play. But a fringe contender with a prospect they like but don’t want to ruin makes perfect sense.
By keeping the prospect in the minors until July it gives the rebuilding team more control over the prospect. And it gives Castellanos a chance to bounce back and rebuild his value without risking something that matters which is wins and losses.
more significantly, why would CLE want castellanos when they’re going to pay hedges $4 mil next year primarily because of what he contributes in the clubhouse? that’s how much their front office values chemistry on their roster. now, if castellanos was known to be a positive influence in the clubhouse, i’d expect CLE to offer a minimal contract but with serious performance clauses.
He’ll be playing golf with his drinking buddies.
Zero chance he goes to the Padres. Strikes out waaaaay too much..can’t play D..and has a horrible obp. No chance.
Still gotta shoehorn a “possible shoestring budget” in there 🤣🤣🤣
Another article claiming the Padres are on a shoestring budget despite all evidence to the contrary
Anywhere but Cleveland
Or cincy
Colorado, I can see them loading up on marginal mlb players to attempt to get near 70 wins.
Where he will play is largely dependent on how he is acquired. If he’s traded there may be a handful of teams willing to take on his deal or swap a bad contract in return. However, if he is released than that opens the field to just about anyone because even teams like the Marlins or Pirates would have to consider the potentially high upside for the league minimum that they would have to pay
No worries I’m sure Arte Moreno is ready to back up the brinks truck.
He may not have the money after the Skaggs trial. Win or lose, that’s costing him in legal fees.
Orioles need a veteran. They need an OF. I see this coming.
Miami looks to be a good fit as he is from the area and could use another bat on the cheap.
He’s from Florida and they need a quality bat in the middle of their lineup. Could also take all or nearly all of his contract and add a prospect for doing it. Bring him home, fill a need, add to the farm, and satisfy the MLBPA for the time being. Makes too much sense.
Anywhere but Philly, please. For three reasons:
1) He’s one of the most inconsistent hitters on an inconsistent team.
2) He’s become a divisive player on multiple levels.
3) While I don’t think the Phils need massive changes, I do think they need to shed some age, and dumping him is the first best way to do it.
California Penal League
He’s making 20 mill so he can just play with himself if needed
White Sox would be perfect on a 1-year deal.
The Sox only pick up players they can flip. I’m not sure Castellanos is flippable.
For the MLB minimum, Jerry will take a chance and hope he hits enough to flip him at midseason. As DH, his lousy fielding won’t matter. Braden Montgomery should be MLB ready by mid-season.
All kidding aside, he’s “amassed” a total of 1.1 BWAR in 4 years in Philly. WAR may just be a little unkind to his kind of a player. But you don’t pay big bucks for that and you don’t trade a lot of talent for it either. There will be some (low) price that makes sense, but it may not appear until Spring Training
Unless he demands a trade, Castellanos will stay in Philly next season as their DH. The Phils will be watching pennies this offseason because their payroll will be bigger than they would like. Having the same chance to take batting practice between innings as Schwarber did while he as with the Phils, Castellanos will post much better numbers than he did in 2025. His relationship with Thomson will stabilize since he won’t be getting replaced for defensive purposes. If the Phils keep Castellanos in 2026, he’ll have a comeback season. He’ll also have a comeback year with another team if that’s the way things shake out. The key is Castellanos’ tolerance for Philly at this point. He may just demand a trade, leaving the Phils with no other options and in dire search of a right-handed bat. I’ve always liked Castellanos. On a level playing field, he would have been one of the Phils’ stars. If the Phils are going to successfully rebuild, they’ll need to get more foot soldiers like Nick Castellanos and fewer generals.
on the bucks – Is this a Nick Castellanos burner account?
He has ZERO leverage to demand a trade!
How many DH’s do the Phillies need?
You are quite literally same the complete opposite of what was written here.
angel, The Phils need a DH now that Schwarber is history. If they were really smart, they’d have a rotating DH by committee instead of one full time DH, and give the older guys a chance to DH once a week to get a day off from defensive duties. As far as leverage, Castellanos has more leverage than the P:hils do. He’s not the kind of guy who is afraid to speak his mind, and I’m sure Thomson doesn’t want to have Castellanos in his face for the entire 2026 season.
onthebucks, Well you are unique!
DH by committee? That is a truly unique perspective.
FYI, Castellanos has no leverage. Do you honestly think his $20 mil salary is even a small pothole in the highway for the Phillies ownership?
Miami Marlins
don, If Castellanos does get traded, the Marlins would be a good choice. I think Castellanos lives down that way, and the Phils might be able to get a pitcher back in return.
Yes he does, and being able to spend more time with his family I think is a big factor, I think Miami might be his first choice
Toledo Mud Hens.
He’ll play in Mexico or Germany.
Castellanos and Bohm for Arenado and Pages.
I like that a little. Pages or Herrera will do.
Why would either team do that?
STL has catching depth and get salary relief. Realmuto is a free agent and Bohm would be redundant. Castellanos can fill in in LF and DH against LHP.
four, Bohm had better stats than Arenado in 2024 and 2025, is younger, and made $7.7 million in 2025 while Arenado made $32 million.
What stats are you looking at?
Bohm had 1 good year otherwise hes simply not good.
@KoC – Phis fan here…Bohm is okay. A middle of the pack 3B in the league, in a time where there are not a ton of high quality 3B that can both hit and field at plus levels and above.
Arenado was that elite 3B, but no more and heading south fast. Great guy, but age catches everyone. On a one year deal Bohm still has marginal positive value, and Arenado has a very significant negative value to contract at this point.
Agreed, He was not a number 4 hitter, but the Phil’s didn’t have many better options
If they can get a true number 4, Bohm would fit much better at 5 or 6
You’re forgetting Castellanos salary and the Phillies get a serviceable big league catcher.
Dodgers. Why not?
Back to the Tigers. They need righty power and can DH him most days.
When a team tips their hand about trading or releasing a guy, he’s as good as released and it lowers his value. Not that he has a lot of value going into 2026 bc his better years are behind him. He’s a release candidate headed to his hometown Marlins.
he is going to get an 8 year deal with the rockies
Couldn’t Castellanos veto a trade with his 10-and-5 rights?
He only has 4 years with the Phillies.
He’s only played for the Phillies for four seasons. 10 and 5 is ten years in MLB, five consecutive years with his current team…
I forgot how to count, thank you
Rendon for Castellanos… get er done Perry!
White Sox for Lou Bob. They have matching salaries and both orgs are fed up with the players they have now.
@Tman – Saw your proposal…blinked. Please talk the Sox into doing this one.
Getz wants prospects for Robert, not iffy players like Castellanos.
If the Sox are truly fed up, then Robert will be a free agent. There’s no world in which the Sox would choose to exercise Robert’s option, just to turn it into a $20M obligation to Nick Castellanos.
@Arm – Well, the Sox failed to trade him at the deadline and announced that they planned to exercise said option, so perhaps we could have them use the same bong?
He’s gonna get shopped for trading, which won’t work because no team will take him for more than 2 top-20 prospects. So he’ll get released, find no home and quietly retire.
A.K.A. This’ll just be Joey Gallo all over again.
The Rockies or White Sox, because they’re weird like that.
Detroit can use a right handed bat that can smash dingers! That is a lot of the reason they lost to Seattle. Offense needs a lot of help
Angels
Pittsburgh, with the Pirates taking on just 3m of his salary.
Appalachian
They may even go as high as 4 or 5 million.
Long Island Ducks
Pirates ⚾
He’ll retire
Orioles…
I think Tom Brennaman wants him to go to a capital location…
KC, it is
Feels like an oversight to not include the Phillies in the poll. The Phillies front office is widely viewed as leakproof. This rumor is either from the Castellanos team or wishcasting. The rumor originated as Matt Gelb reading the tea leaves.
Japan
He’ll be traded to who will take him for a box of baseballs plus the Phillies eating $19,500,000.00.
Pirates or Rockies. Maybe White Sox.
North Korea, thank you
Rockies or the Angels
Reds would be fun
ATL
He hasn’t made an error in 3 out of his last 4 seasons and he must think that makes him an excellent outfielder when in fact he is rated as the worst outfielder in baseball. You don’t get errors for bad routes, poor jumps and not being able to cut off balls that 90 percent of other right fielder’s would get to.
He is clearly a DH and might still be able to put up half way decent offensive numbers for a rebuilding team.
Bucs
If the Pirates go out and spend $26 million, it better not be on Nick Castellanos.
Most definitely. Phillie would have to eat 80 percent of that contract.
The Guangdong Tigers
Zero votes for the Cubs?
Come back to the cubs Nick!
Miami
I voted other. Dodgers have pending Free Agents and several other clubs will be shuffling their roster because of impending free agents or making an attempt to improve their offense. I see him as a DH with is -1 war last season. His defense is slightly below average, but serviceable in a pinch.
I can seriously think Braves, Mets, and Red Sox could sign him to fill the DH void. Maybe Cardinals if they don’t do a complete rebuild. Again he will be on the league minimum and will not receive 26 million next season. There is not a single team who will pay that much for slight power production and fair defender (makes bad reads on the ball). I think he plays if he settles for 5-8 million one year deal. Similar to McCutchen in his age 34 season and defensive concerns become a reality.
I don’t see him as a good fit for the Cards, not with their rebuild starting in 2026.
Mets or Yankees. They both love his brand of sheist-show drama
The Phillies will try to trade him but I can’t see them releasing him in the offseason, they don’t like eating that kind of money. Didi Gregorius was way worse in 2021 and the Phillies still brought him back instead of eating $15 million.
If he is dropped, I would love to see Nats get him for major league minimum. A good first half they trade him for prospects and if still stinking up the place just cut.
Colorado can give him basically full time duty
Texas
This has Chicago white Sox off-season splash signing written all over it
not in the US? He has accumulated .8 fWAR in the last 4 years combined
If they don’t get another plus RH OF bat they’ll keep him. If they don’t re-sign Schwarber they will keep him. If one or more of those things happen then Castellanos will be moved for someone else’s last year on bad deal. I’m not sure who that matches Dombrowski up with, but I could see a straight up bad deal swap, or some sort of package framed around that. There’s too much money to eat in a traditional trash dump trade. The Phils have also seemed willing to work through adversity with bad deals like they did with Romano and Taijuan (as long as they are winning).
Really hope the Royals don’t sign him, wish him the best.
kentonwebb Royals already have too many bad outfielders
To Detroit For Javy Baez, Will Vest, and cash. Or just trying to find a way for Detroit to get rid of a much worse contract than Nick’s.
Back to Cincy
NYY
Maybe Texas or Houston
I don’t see Cleveland having any interest in tying up the DH position.
As a Royal fan you can keep his .295 OBP and 130 strikeouts playing lousy defense