Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
In what came as a surprise move by the Philadelphia Phillies just before Spring Training, the team decided to cut ties with veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos. Philadelphia had been discussing a trade of Castellanos for some time this offseason, but unable to find a partner, the organization simply decided to move on from him.
*PREDICTION*
Castellanos was going into the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract with the Phillies, and he is still owed $20 by the team. But the veteran outfielder is now free to sign elsewhere, likely for the league minimum, which opens the door for many teams.
One reason why Castellanos was let go by Philadelphia was that he brought beer into the dugout last season. The veteran admitted this on a social media post, saying that he didn’t drink any of it, but it was more of a metaphor for how he thought the team was being run.
“After being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family, I brought a Presidente into the dugout,” Castellanos wrote. “I then sat right next to Rob and let him know that too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others was not conducive to us winning.”
Castellanos, 34, can still be a productive player for a team, but some teams could be wary of bringing him in. However, for his overall production, getting him on a minimum deal could be appealing to all teams across the league.
Last season with the Phillies, the veteran hit .250 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 147 games, helping the team become the NL East champions. At this point in his career, Castellanos may be better off playing as a designated hitter more often, and this could see his numbers jump up.
The two-time All-Star could be motivated by this release, but finding the right club to join will be crucial. With the new season starting soon, Castellanos could latch on with a team soon, starting a new chapter in his career.
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One team that could make a lot of sense for Castellanos is the Texas Rangers. Texas has undergone somewhat of a changing of the guard this offseason, and this roster could use a little more pop in the lineup.
Losing Adolis Garcia earlier in the offseason left a hole in the lineup, and Castellanos could come in to fill this production. Texas could use him as a designated hitter partner with Joc Pederson, switching them off depending on the pitcher that takes the mound for the opposing team.
But Castellanos could also take turns in the outfield, too, giving the Rangers some flexibility with his services. Even with how things ended in Philadelphia, Castellanos is still a decent option at the plate, and he could help Texas try to get back to the postseason.
The Rangers have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons after winning the World Series in 2023, so the multi-time All-Star could help this team. Since this would be a small cost for the Rangers, signing Castellanos could be one of the better low-risk moves that Texas could make for the upcoming season.
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