Philadelphia Phillies Reportedly Take a Stand on Playoff Hero

The Philadelphia Phillies, contrary to popular belief, are not interested in trading star outfielder Nick Castellanos.

ESPN’s Buster Olney reports:

According to a Phillies insider, the team is not interested in dealing Nick Castellanos. They regard him as a vital member of the squad, value his output, and have no plans to trade him.

It’s unclear why the allegation appeared in the first place, but if the Phillies were interested in trading him, it could have been a financial consideration. He still has three years left on his $60 million contract, and moving him could have provided additional financial flexibility.

Unfortunately, Castellanos will remain with the Phillies after re-establishing himself as a high-quality hitter this season. He batted.272, had 29 home runs, and 106 RBI. He also achieved legendary status during the Phillies’ NLCS run, hitting four home runs in the NLDS victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Castellanos has a lifetime batting average of.276. He spent 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Tigers, Reds, Cubs, and Phillies. He has 210 career home runs and has been chosen to the All-Star team twice.

The Phillies are expected to be very successful again in 2024, but there are some concerns. Aaron Nola, the ace right-hander, is a free agent, and several sources expect him to leave this offseason. Perhaps the concept of trading Castellanos was conceived in order to free up funds to sign Nola.

But, since Olney has stated that they will not trade him, they will have to find the money elsewhere.