CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Philadelphia Phillies announced the release of outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday, marking the end of his tenure with the team.
Despite attempts to explore trade options in the previous two offseasons, the Phillies were unable to find a team willing to assume any portion of Castellanos’ $20 million salary owed in 2026. The decision to release him came during the team’s first full-squad workout of spring training.
In the 2023 season, Castellanos posted a .250 batting average with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs,finishing with a.694 OPS. Though, his performance declined in the latter half of the season, coupled with an incident of insubordination in Miami, leading to a reduced role within the lineup. His overall performance in 2025, both on and off the field, ultimately led to the Phillies’ decision not to retain him.