It’s been reported that the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to trade away Nick Castellanos and his $20 million salary, but have not found any takers. The fact that this was reported by Jeff Passan makes this a real possibility and not just an idea that the Phillies will trade Castellanos.
In addition to Passan, Phillies reporter for The Athletic, Matt Gelb reported that the Phillies are trying to find a taker in a trade.
With one side is already willing to dance, let’s figure out who the other side of the deal would be, and the Kansas City Royals make too much sense.
This is a PREDICTION, not a REPORT.
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Nick Castellanos Trade Proposal to the Kansas City Royals
Trading for Nick Castellanos would give the Kansas City Royals a proven bat they currently lack. Kansas City has made strides with its young core led by Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino but adding a veteran hitter with Castellanos’ track record of power, run production, and durability would elevate the lineup’s consistency.
Castellanos has multiple seasons of 20+ home runs and strong RBI totals, and his presence would immediately lengthen a lineup that too often relies on its top three hitters. For a team looking to take the next step from a promising 82-80 record to“legitimately competitive, his offensive profile fills a clear need.
Beyond the on-field production, Castellanos brings postseason experience that would benefit a young Royals clubhouse learning how to win meaningful games. He has delivered in big playoff moments for Philadelphia, showing an ability to rise to the occasion under pressure—something Kansas City’s roster largely lacks. His leadership and understanding of high-stakes baseball could help guide developing players through the grind of a full season and potentially into October.
The Royals have been building a culture centered around accountability and competitiveness, and Castellanos’ fiery, intense approach would fit seamlessly into that identity.
Financially, while Castellanos’ contract is sizable, the Royals have a relatively clean long-term payroll, making the move feasible if Philadelphia is willing to help offset some salary or take on a prospect-heavy return.
Kansas City has reached the point in its rebuild where supplementing young talent with established veterans is not only logical but necessary to accelerate contention. Adding Castellanos signals to fans, and to the clubhouse, that the organization is serious about competing now and investing in pieces that elevate the team beyond incremental improvement. For a franchise trying to reemerge in the AL Central, acquiring a proven hitter like Castellanos could be the type of bold move that transforms expectations.
Other Nick Castellanos Landing Spots
If Castellanos ends up being moved, the destination would almost certainly need to be a team that’s trying to win right now. With his contract, age, and profile, it’s hard to justify acquiring him unless a club believes it has a realistic chance to compete. Otherwise, the move simply wouldn’t align with their timeline.
The Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds have both been mentioned as possible suitors, and while neither is viewed as a stronger contender than the Padres, they’re not entirely out of the discussion. Between those two, the Tigers seem like the more logical fit.
San Diego also stands out as a natural landing spot. The Padres have a more pressing need for Castellanos’ bat than either Detroit or Cincinnati, and because of that urgency, they would likely put forward the most competitive offer out of those three.
Nick Castellanos Contract
“Castellanos is set to become a free agent in 2027 per his contract details from Spotrac. Castellanos had originally signed a five year deal worth 100 million dollars with the Phillies.”
Nick Castellanos Stats
In 2025, Castellanos appeared in 147 games for the Phillies, logging 547 at-bats. He scored 72 runs, recorded 137 hits, and hit 17 home runs, driving in 72 RBIs. He also walked 32 times and struck out 133 times. Castellanos posted a .250 batting average, with a .294 on-base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage, giving him a .694 OPS.
At the end of the day, Castellanos has a couple potential suitors, and with the Phillies already shopping him, there’s a possibility that the Royals come out on top of the Castellanos sweepstakes, if you can even call it that.