More teams than not are expected to spend around Major League Baseball this offseason, which could help the Philadelphia Phillies find a deal for Nick Castellanos.
I’ve been on record a few times stating that I don’t think Castellanos is going to have as good of a market as anybody might think, and although many don’t expect it to be much, I just don’t see an avenue where any team will want him.
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Unfortunately for Castellanos, over the past few years, it’s been a very disappointing showing.
He is also set to make $20 million in 2026, so it’s tough to say that any team in Major League Baseball will want to add that contract to their payroll.
Despite that, reports indicate that the Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to spend a bit, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
“The Pittsburgh Pirates, after expressing interest in first baseman Josh Naylor, are doing the same with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, while considering infielders Jorge Polanco, Ryan O’Hearn and Kazuma Okamoto as perhaps more realistic free-agent options.
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The Miami Marlins are active in the closer market, talking with free-agent right-hander Michael King and other starting pitchers, and are also weighing upgrades at first and third base,” he wrote.
When searching for what that might mean for the Phillies and Castellanos, Matt Davis of FanSided believes the Pirates could be a suitor for him due to having to spend money.
“Either team taking on all or some of the $20 million of Castellanos’ final year under contract would show the league they’re willing to spend. It also proves to their fans that they’re willing to invest to put a better product on the field. If the Marlins or Pirates want to take on his contract, they would help themselves out tremendously by avoiding any potential punishment… The Pirates, on the other hand, are expected to clear the CBA requirement with their 2025 payroll coming in just over $105 million,” he added.
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It isn’t one of the craziest things to suggest that Castellanos can fit in Pittsburgh, considering it needs a ton of help offensively.
It feels likely that he won’t get much back in return, and the Phillies might even have to add a prospect or two in the deal to get it done, but there’s reason to believe it can work.