© Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
When the Philadelphia Phillies signed Nick Castellanos to a five-year, $100 million contract ahead of the 2022 MLB season, it was with the idea that he’d provide a much-needed right-handed power bat to their lineup.
Castellanos had just come off the best year of his career, hitting 34 home runs and knocking in 100 runs for the Cincinnati Reds, which worked out to a 138 OPS+.
His first season in Philadelphia was a disappointment, with just 13 homers, 62 RBIs, and a 96 OPS+. But big home runs in the Phillies’ run to the 2022 World Series covered up some of the blemishes.
In the years since, however, Castellanos has continued to struggle at the plate. Additionally, he’s among the worst fielding outfielders in the league, if not the worst.
That all came to a head this past season when Castellanos often found himself benched in favor of teammate Max Kepler. He expressed frustration with the move and with the lack of communication from manager Rob Thomson.
Now, it appears that Castellanos has finally played his final game in Philly, despite one year remaining on his contract.
Nick Castellanos Hires New Agent Amid Phillies Turmoil
When Castellanos first signed in Philadelphia, he was represented by baseball super agent Scott Boras. But with his future now in doubt, the two-time MLB All-Star is making a change.
Nick Castellanos has hired Mato Sports Management to represent him
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 23, 2025
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Castellanos hired Gene Mato of Mato Sports Management to represent him. That comes amid reports that Philadelphia is looking to trade the outfielder or could even release him outright before next season.
If he is released, it will be interesting to see what the market looks like for Castellanos.
The 33-year-old is coming off a season where he hit .250 with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs, which translates to an 88 OPS+. He also had negative 11 defensive runs saved despite not playing every day in the outfield.
Some team likely takes a chance on a career resurgence. But it’s hard to imagine Castellanos landing with a contender.