Oct 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos (8) stands in right field in the second inning during game two of the NLDS round against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
There seems to be a strange obsession in this city when it comes to Nick Castellanos.
It's like a soap opera, you know it's the same story line -- over, and over, and over, but you just can't get your fill of it.
We all know he's not coming back to the Phillies. It's been written.
And written again.
And again.
And again.
Oh, look, another conversation about it.
And once more last week.
And now, here I am, getting caught up in writing about it, as well.
It's been rerun so many times it needs syndication rights, at this point.
That's because he's still technically on the roster, and the Phillies are still being asked questions about him because, well, everyone needs to see this drama through to completion.
Hopefully, after this story, there's only one more - and it's either about him being traded or released in a few days.
And it sounds like, one way or another, that's finally coming this week.
"We continue to talk to clubs about that and that's our focus prior to the start of spring training," Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Monday. "So, that's something we'll continue to work on this week."
The follow up question asked of Dombrowski was, is this something that they want to have resolved this week.
"Hopefully, yes," he said.
From your lips to God's ears, Dave.
HOT TAKE: Nick Castellanos should be back with the Phillies in 2026👀
YES or NO⁉️#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/KH7KMHm7GG
Now, I say that, not because I grew tired of Castellanos. I always found the guy interesting, and often entertaining.
But it became apparent that there needed to be a divorce between him and the Phillies this season. It wasn't ending pretty, and the sooner everyone can put the bad relationship behind them, the better.
The Phillies find themselves in a real pickle because of it. With Castellanos due $20 million in 2026, the Phillies have found very little interest from around the league.
Even with the team willing to it a healthy portion of his salary, they have not been able to move him to date.
And while they still may find him a new home in the coming days, swallowing somewhere around $17 million to not have him play for the Phillies, there's as good a chance that no one offers them anything and the entirety of the $20 million is a sunk cost.
Could Nick Castellanos be an option for the Cardinals to pursue as their search for a right handed hitting outfielder continues?
On Episode 97, @JohnDenton555 shared why Castellanos could make sense for St Louis. #LouSportsTalk #ForTheLou #STLCards pic.twitter.com/DKJSB5BumT
The only positive is that once Castellanos goes, in whatever fashion he does, it will open a spot on the 40-man roster for the Phillies - albeit one that will likely be taken up by Justin Crawford once Opening Day approaches.
So, work with me people -- let's manifest this into existence. Let's agree to only one more Castellanos story - when there's actual news to report - and then we can finally turn the page.
Our Tim Kelly will be in Clearwater starting Wednesday. I'm sure he'll be one of the first reporters to tell the rest of us that Castellanos was traded or released. He'll write up that anti-climactic ending to this droning saga and then we can tie a bow on it and call it a wrap.
The only question that will be left after that is, what's the next thing everyone will obsess about too much involving the Phillies?
Can't wait.
