Phillies tell Nick Castellanos not to report; trade or release imminent

The Philadelphia Phillies have instructed outfielder Nick Castellanos, 33, not to report to spring training as the club intensifies efforts to trade or release him. With $20 million remaining on his contract for 2026, Castellanos's poor defense and a .694 OPS last season have complicated matters. The Phillies, who signed Adolis García this offseason, reportedly have no locker for Castellanos and expect a resolution within two days. The two-time All-Star posted career-lows in 2025 with a .250 average and .294 OBP, along with a -1.0 WAR, and has had documented issues with manager Rob Thomson.