Reports surfaced on Wednesday, February 11th, that the Philadelphia Phillies told outfielder Nick Castellanos NOT to report to Spring Training. Also stated in those reports was that Castellanos would either be traded or released. With the latter being the more likely option because the team signing Castellanos afterwards is not dealing with the majority of the $20 million still owed to Nick for the 2026 season. That responsibility would still fall on the Phillies. So, where will the outfielder reside for the 2026 campaign? Let’s explore some potential options.

Understanding Castellanos Value

Before we can guesstimate or name potential candidates to land Castellanos, we must first understand the player they’d be receiving. The 2025 campaign for Nick was all but an albatross of a season. Below is the chart of Nick’s batting stats from BaseballReference.com for comparison. And for as poor a season as 2025 was for Nick, the stat line that jumps out even more is comparing the bWAR (Wins Above Replacement) for all of Nick’s time in Philadelphia with his 51 games as a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2019. Across 602 games in Philly, Castellanos has combined for a bWAR of 1.3, and in those 51 games with the Northsiders, a bWAR of 1.7. To say that Castellanos’ time in Philadelphia hasn’t lived up to the expectations would be a wild understatement. So what could be reasonably expected from Nick upon his release is anyone’s guess. But there is still an opportunity to rediscover something with a change of scenery, that maybe unlocks something in Nick that can make him become a positive asset for a team again in 2026. The 2026 season for Castellanos will be just his age-34 season, so it’s fair to believe that there is still more in the tank. Hopefully, moving to another team can reignite that spark for the outfielder.

Honorable Mention: Tampa Bay Rays

There truly isn’t a world in which the highly analytical Tampa Bay Rays take a legitimate flyer on Castellanos. Nick’s defense is far too poor for Tampa’s liking. However, as Nick is a South Florida kid, being closer to home may appeal to him. And if any organization can unlock the analytical advantage that could be found in Nick’s game, it would be the Tampa Bay Rays. That said, this isn’t likely to happen, and thus the honorable mention category.

Deffered Honorable Mention: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are going out and signing everyone, so why not Nicky Cast? Shoutout to VRec for the idea. All jokes aside, when the Dodgers peg a player as someone they want, they have more often than not, lately, gotten that player. And when players go out to LA now, they seem to find the best versions of themselves within that organization. Who’s to say that the Dodgers don’t take a chance on Castellanos, make him a part-time player that only plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and somehow has the best season of his career? That’s how things have seemed to go for LA in recent years, so while throwing them in as an honorable mention was done in jest, it could actually turn out to be an underrated move, if it happens.

Overreaction Honorable Mention: Arizona Diamondbacks

In the wake of the hamate injury to Corbin Carroll, the DBacks could look to add a little bit of insurance out in the desert. Arizona was once littered with outfield options, but they’ve been slowly getting rid of many of those players, leaving them seemingly a little short in that department. And while the injury to Corbin Carroll isn’t believed to be something to diminish his entire 2026 season, there is a chance that Corbin isn’t ready for Opening Day. So adding in a veteran player to fill in the gaps until the franchise star returns could be a potential landing spot for Castellanos.

Let me make a Case Landing Spots #3: Cleveland Guardians

Now, while saying the Cleveland Guardians may seem as wild and far-fetched an idea as it was to mention the Rays, for the Guardians, the connection may not be as wild as you think. Cleveland is a very analytical organization, and Nick wouldn’t, at first glance, seem to fit their desired mold. However, the Guardians don’t truly have a clear-cut option for left field or their designated hitter spot. Also, it can be factored in that the Guardians have struggled in the home run department. And while the 2025 season was nearly an entire lossed campaign for Castellanos, he still managed to hit 17 home runs, and that was with all the clamouring by fans to bench him or cut him.

So even in the face of all that, Nick hit nearly 20 home runs. And even if we just average his home runs from his time in Philadelphia, which we’ve already stated was a down set of years, Nick manages to average 20 home runs a season. Where would that 17-home run season have placed him on the Guardians roster last year? THIRD. Nick’s absolutely abysmal 2025 season would have still had him third in home runs on the Guardians, and his 72 RBIs would have ranked SECOND for the Guardians in 2025. So even in what was a down season by all accounts, Nick Castellanos could help the Guardians offense.

Semi Honorable Mention: Chicago White Sox

Similar reasons would apply to the White Sox if they were to consider signing Castellanos. There aren’t any options that are beating down the door for right field or dh. It wouldn’t really cost the ChiSox anything in terms of the financial components. And the other potential option for the White Sox would be if Castellanos has a bounce-back first half, they could try to flip him at the deadline. So there are options out there for Nick, even though his time in Philadelphia did not turn out as hoped when he signed that five-year, $100 million deal.

So You’re saying there’s a Chance Landing Spot #2: San Diego Padres

At first glance, it wouldn’t seem like the Padres are a solid fit for Nick Castellanos, as right field is currently occupied by the former platinum glove-winning Fernando Tatis Jr. So if you stopped looking there, you’d be correct; that wouldn’t be a fit. However, shifting Castellanos to left field and having him have more of a primary designated hitter role could facilitate this move. Currently, San Diego is heading into Spring Training with Ramon Laureano and Miguel Andujar seemingly penciled in at left field and DH, respectively. But when you’re in a division with the two-time reigning defending World Series Champion, the Los Angeles Dodgers, that just doesn’t feel like enough firepower to try to combat them.

Now, the Padres are in an intriguing and difficult position, in terms of the state of the team, both in direction and in financials. Because the Padres current ownership group is looking to sell the team, taking on more expensive assets doesn’t seem like a direction they will go. Thus, bringing in a player like Castellanos serves both masters of not overextending financially, while also bringing in a player who could help to try and close the enormous gap between them and the Dodgers. Bringing in Nick Castellanos isn’t going to be a savior move for the franchise, but it could help bridge the gap to something else. And if Nick has a good first half, and the Padres don’t have a good half-season, as mentioned before, trade him away at the deadline. The Padres’ farm system has been ravaged by general manager AJ Preller in recent years. And while even a bilstering Nick Castellanos won’t bring back a king’s ransom in terms of prospects, anything would be better than what’s currently viewed by many prognosticators as the worst farm system in baseball would be a good thing.

Seems to be All but a Sure Thing Landing Spot #1: Miami Marlins

A homecoming for the South Florida kid could easily be in the works. The Miami Marlins seem like the most likely landing destination for Castellanos because even though Miami is on the rise, they aren’t there yet. Being close to home, sleeping in his own bed, and playing in front of his family could reinvigorate Castellanos into a better campaign in 2026. All of the aforementioned reasons still apply to Miami, the cost-effective signing after his release. If Nick has a positive first half, he can be traded. Miami has no reasonable heir-apparent at the designated hitter role. And moreover than that, Castellanos can be a veteran leader to help guide some of the younger players on the Marlins’ roster.