"Right-handed threat behind Bryce Harper" - Phillies insider gives verdict on $10M free agent signing

The Philadelphia Phillies enjoyed a superb regular season in 2025, winning their division, the NL East, for a second consecutive year. However, tt was the all-too-familiar tale of heartbreak in the playoffs come October, as the Phils were eliminated by the LA Dodgers in the NLDS.

Gearing up to go again in 2026, the Phillies are expected to be quite active in the market this winter. On Tuesday, the organization bolstered their outfield, signing two-time All-Star and World Series champion Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million deal.

Later the same day, insider Jim Salisbury of PHLY Sports delivered his verdict on the move.

"He's streaky. But when he gets going, (he's) fun to watch," Salisbury said (Timestamp: 3:11). "Plays with a lot of emotion, a lot of energy when he's going good. He could put up some numbers in Citizen's Bank Park. Everybody knows it's there. Look what he did in 2023. He's gone down the last few years. Batting average not there, on-base percentage not there.

"But (he's got) power, he can hit some doubles. He can get hot. There's a bounceback element to this. They need more from him. He's going to bring more defensively. He's going to bring something defensively immediately, while they wait to see what's there in the bat. There is upside in that bat, there is power. (It's) very important there's a right-handed threat in the middle of that order behind (Bryce) Harper."

Insider claims Adolis Garcia's acquisition could lead to the end of Nick Castellanos' time with the Phillies

Otherwise a regular in the lineup, Nick Castellanos saw his playing time significantly reduced towards the end of the 2025 season, as skipper Rob Thomson tried out alternative options in the outfield.

Unhappy with his situation, both Castellanos and the Phillies are reportedly looking to part ways this winter, and that notion is further reinforced by Adolis Garcia's recent acquisition. Just like Castellanos, Garcia, too, plays primarily as a right fielder.

On Monday, insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post posted to X, predicting Nick Castellanos to eventually move on.

"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," Heyman posted.

Finding a team willing to acquire Castellanos may be a challenge for the Phillies, as the veteran is owed $20 million for the 2026 season.

Edited by Raghav Mehta