The Philadelphia Phillies have delivered a handful of seasons with epic highs and lows in recent years. The unexpected trip to the World Series in 2022 and the three 90-win seasons that followed were all exciting for the fan base, but the playoff collapses were equally as devastating.
After three straight years in which the Phillies have failed to make it back to the World Series, with exits in the NLDS in each of the last two, many fans and analysts are wondering if we’re about to see a transitional period in Philadelphia.
The core of the roster is beginning to age, and a few of the key contributors are exploring their options in free agency, namely Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez, and J.T. Realmuto.
While the Phillies could certainly still be in the mix in the NL once again next season, it wouldn’t be shocking if they made a move or two that have the future in mind.
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Nick Castellanos Sent to Padres in MLB Trade Proposal
Outside of potentially losing a few guys to free agency, rumblings of potential trades have surfaced as well. Right fielder Nick Castellanos is a name that has been a part of those discussions.
Nick Castellanos is expected to be traded or released by the Phillies this offseason, per @MattGelb pic.twitter.com/J5bYePcUN2
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 17, 2025
Given Castellanos’s declining play, age, and the $20 million he’s owed next season, it’s not entirely surprising that the Phillies want to move in another direction.
Given these reports, TWSN’s Steve Bradshaw has predicted that Castellanos will be traded to the San Diego Padres.
“With that in mind, it would make sense for the Padres to give up a very poor prospect, outside of their top 10. For the Phillies, who risk letting him go for nothing if they just release him, both sides can be happy,” wrote Bradshaw.
Could The Padres Actually Trade For Nick Castellanos?
Simply put, it seems incredibly unlikely that this trade takes place.
Recent reports indicate that the Padres’ 2026 payroll is expected to hover around the same $211 million mark from last season. With $201 million already on the books, financial flexibility will be limited.
Taking on the remaining $20 million on Castellanos’s deal already seems unlikely, but that doesn’t even consider that San Diego’s limited spending money will almost certainly go toward adding starting arms.
With Dylan Cease and Michael King almost certainly departing in free agency, the Padres’ front office will have to allocate a good portion of the available resources to retooling the rotation.
Altogether, considering the needs for the roster and financial restrictions in San Diego, a trade is almost certainly off the table. Perhaps we could see Castellanos suiting up for the Padres next year if he’s released by the Phillies and signs on a team-friendly deal, but don’t expect a trade between these two teams any time soon.
Nick Castellanos Stats
Castellanos held down his role as the Phillies’ everyday right fielder last year, but he was rather ineffective, both in the field and at the dish.
2025 Stats:
147 GP
-0.8 WAR
.250 BA
.294 OBP
.400 SLG
17 HR
72 RBI
133 K