Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:
1. Pitchers and catchers continue to report:
Most teams have had their first official workout of Spring Training at this point, but a few clubs have still yet to begin official activities. Almost all the remaining teams are scheduled to have their first workout today. In Arizona’s Cactus League, that list includes the Guardians, Rockies, Brewers, and Mariners. Meanwhile, Florida’s Grapefruit League will see the Twins, Yankees, Cardinals, and Rays all officially start spring activities. Notable new faces expected to be present for today’s workouts include Brandon Sproat and Kyle Harrison (Brewers), Dustin May (Cardinals), Michael Lorenzen (Rockies), and Ryan Weathers (Yankees).
2. Castellanos conclusion incoming:
The Phillies’ long, awkward divorce with veteran Nick Castellanos appears to be drawing to a close. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, a resolution for Castellanos, whether that’s a release or a trade, is expected to come together within the next two days. It’s unclear what sort of market Castellanos might have in trade, but it could be viable for a team interested in the soon to be 34-year-old for a part-time role or an interested club without much hope of making the postseason this year to sacrifice a little extra money to swing a trade for him rather than banking on being able to convince him to sign with them after he’s released.
3. Quintana’s deal to be made official:
Along with the aforementioned arrival of Lorenzen in Rockies camp today, Colorado is expected to welcome another veteran pitcher into the fold officially. Southpaw Jose Quintana recently signed with the Rockies on a one-year deal, and Thomas Harding of MLB.com writes that his deal with the team is expected to become official ahead of the club’s first official workout later today. A 40-man roster move will be necessary to officially add Quintana to the roster, and it will be interesting to see if the team sends right-hander Jeff Brigham to the 60-day injured list after he underwent Tommy John surgery last March, or if they expect him to be ready early enough in the season that they don’t want to force him to stay on the shelf that long. If they want to keep Brigham off the IL for now, they’ll need to designate a player for assignment or work out a trade to clear 40-man space.
Cubs should bring him back if they can get him on the cheap. Castellanos, Shaw. Ballesteros, and either Kelly or Amaya on the bench would give them a rock solid bench. Lifetime .272 hitter. He can still hit. Maybe an occasional outfield spot start.
Tigers could use Castellanos. Could also see the White Sox get him.
Please leave the state of Pennsylvania. The Pirates don’t need another poor fielding OF.
The Tigers absolutely do NOT need Castellanos. J.Jones earned the RH OF/DH role last year. They also just signed Slater to a minor league deal.
I’m not engaged much with the Tigers depth but I felt like I kept hearing that the Tigers needed bats. Pitching depth obviously is unmatched but I kept hearing how the batting depth was lacking (and there was a reliance on high-end prospects coming in and filling that need.
Castellanos is still a pretty good bat that could be helpful but I can understand team’s hesitations.
Poor defense, terrible chase rate, declining bat speed for 3 straight years. I doubt anyone with playoff hopes will get him.
A non-contender will probably take a flyer on him, in hopes of flipping him at the Trade Deadline, if he can rebound. (Cards?)
Jeff Criswell
Considering Toronto just lost Santander for the majority of the season they might be interested in acquiring Castellanos on a cheap deal with Philly picking up most of the cost.
Finally…. the report above states why a team might be willing to trade for Castellanos rather than just wait for the release. If released, Casty can pick his spot. If a team really wants him, they are going to have to trade for him. Phillies eat $15-$17MM and acquiring team sends back a marginal prospect. Non top 100 prospect…..
Key words: if a team really wants him. Please name a team that meets that description!
Thank you. Fans are always asking why someone should trade for him rather than sign him for the minimum. I don’t like the guy, but there teams out there that could use a $1M RH platoon DH/5th OF. If you need the guy and have to pay $1M instead of minimum, it would be short-sighted to not ante up another $250k.
Trade him to Cincy for Brandon Williamson. He once had promise and is coming off tj w major league experience. Reds pay Williamson salary/Phili pay’s castellanos
What u think Phili fans ?
Phillies eat $18M+ if they are lucky!
Castellanos and Kerkering for Jasson Dominguez. If I say it enough times, surely I can manifest it lol.
Yankees are not doing that.
Yankees aren’t??? I think it would be the opposite. I think the Phillies like Kerkering more than the Yanks like Jasson at this point.
Nick fills the back up OF position better as a right handed hitter and Kerkering adds a closer of the future type in the bullpen that we desperately need. With Jasson’s diminished value, that would be a heck of a nice return. The only thing that would need to be figured out is who picks up the most contract money.
Have you done a deep dive into Castellanos’ numbers? Terrible Barrel Rate, Bat Speed, Chase Rate, Range, Arm.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/nick-castella…
You’d have to believe he found the fountain of youth. I dont see a trade for any playoff hopeful team.
One could say the Phillies will release him just in the Nick of time.
I don’t get why people think Castellanos would help their team win? Nick hasn’t been good since 2021.
I took a look at his 2025 stats. His BA was league average with 17 homers. Thats not good, but not bad. What is the deal with him? Why have the Phils turned on him?
Since becoming a Philly (excluding his great ‘21 season you reference) he’s 28th in the league in RBI in that time. The only Philly above him is Schwarber. You don’t have to like him, but it’s generally good to drive in runs…so to have more than the other team, since that’s how you win games.
Everyone wants to know what Casty said to Rob. If multiple people were disgusted with what he said, it had to be some kind of personal dig at Rob that crossed a line.
I doubt they just flat out release him tho. Maybe they would come to an agreement along the lines of what the Angels did with Rendon, spread his money over a couple years. I could see that as a last resort before a flat out release.
Rendon is still on the Angels. The Phillies don’t want Nick on the roster, so that doesn’t work.
Regarding Castellanos, besides the $20MM owed by Philadelphia this year to him, I really don’t understand why this player is of little or no interest at all by the other MLB teams, as his hitting numbers are quite decent. Guess because he’s a defensive liability in the outfield, but many other players less offensively-gifted have the same problem and at least draw some interest… What’s happening here ?
Nick has no room for improvement defensively.
He’s the worst outfielder in MLB so he can only be used as a platoon RH DH. His offensive numbers were below average last year and he’s actually worse against lefties than righties. If there’s a team that has a bench spot for a guy who really only does one thing and does it at below the league average then maybe, but any serious contender would have so many better options.
If clubs don’t want him in the field, weak side platoon players for DH don’t get much demand…..especially if they know NC doesn’t want to remain in Philly due to a limited role. Teams may want to use him in similar way as Philly that has him ticked off now.
He had negative WAR last year and an OPS+ of 88. Is that his tru talent level at this point in his career? Do you want to risk it on anything other than prorated MLB minimum salary? Do you want to give up the 40 man spot and roster him?
He is a liability on defense and he had a pretty bad 2025 season at the plate. Given his recent offensive production, the bat isn’t worth a primary DH role. The glove has been far to bad to play regularly in the field.
He could be seen as a potential bench bat to primarily face LHP. He was pretty vocal on his displeasure of his part time role last season (or at least the ha doing of it) and his production against LHP took a huge hit last year.
It will be interesting to see if there are any takers on him.
Jeff Brigham doesn’t play for the Rockies, you must mean Jeff Criswell