"Nick Castellanos will be gone": MLB insider issues strong verdict as Phillies land $10,000,000 "replacement"

The Philadelphia Phillies added a high-profile bat to their roster after signing veteran outfielder Adolis Garcia on a one-year, $10 million deal on Monday, pending a physical.

Garcia's arrival in Philadelphia could signal the end of Nick Castellanos' tenure with the NL East franchise, as they both play right field. MLB insider Jon Heyman said Castellanos will not be with the Phillies for the 2026 season, as he is owed $20 million of his current deal next year.

"Nick Castellanos will be gone one way or another from Philly. $20M to go for 2026. You’d think some team would pay some small fraction of it, but in any case, he’s been replaced. Adolis is the new RF. $10M for Adolis fwiw."

Jon Heyman

@JonHeyman

Nick Castellanos will be gone one way or another from Philly. $20M to go for 2026. You’d think some team would pay some small fraction of it, but in any case, he’s been replaced. Adolis is the new RF. $10M for Adolis fwiw.

Castellanos, who posted a .250 batting average and an on-base percentage of .294, is entering the fifth and final year of his $100 million deal with the franchise.

Garcia, who didn't have his best season in 2025, batting .227 with 19 home runs, 75 RBIs, a .665 OPS and a 91 OPS+ this year with the Texas Rangers, is expected to be an upgrade on Castellanos.

ESPN analyst slams the Phillies for potentially replacing Nick Castellanos with Adolis Garcia

While many would see Adolis Garcia as an upgrade on a slumping Nick Castellanos, ESPN journalist David Schoenfield isn't too impressed by the Phillies' new signing.

"Seemingly stuck with Castellanos, they decided to add a new right fielder anyway in Adolis Garcia." Schoenfield writes. "They may be replacing Castellanos with ... somebody worse than Castellanos.

"You can't completely dismiss the idea of a rebound from Garcia and a one-year deal is always acceptable -- but this looks like a low-impact move, at best minor upgrade on Castellanos."

Castellanos had a tough time in the outfield and was seen as a defensive liability at times. His plate appearances didn't do him any favors as the Phillies crashed out of the postseason after being dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series.