Phillies Release Castellanos; Player Admits Dugout Beer Incident

Nick Castellanos was released by the Philadelphia Phillies on Feb. 12, becoming a free agent after the team failed to trade him despite his $20M salary for 2026. The 33-year-old struggled in 2025 (.250/.294/.400, 17 HR, 72 RBI). In a sendoff letter, he admitted to being benched last June for bringing a beer into the dugout during a game in Miami and complaining to manager Rob Thomson about team rules after being removed. Teammates intervened before he could drink. The Yankees had inquired about a trade earlier but backed off due to mixed reviews. Adolis Garcia is expected to replace him in right field.