Phillies 2026 Spring Training Discussion

[zambonir]

I would think he'll take the minimum from the best team, but maybe with some incentives or mutual option buyout. Or he could opt for the most playing time (if he's still stubbornly not wanting to platoon) and the understanding that he'll probably get traded. Or maybe he just wants to be a Marlin and stay near his kid. Good point about the tax, whatever he ends up banking will come off it eventually.

As bad as he was, apparently the Padres and the Rockies had even worse offensive production from their DH spot last year. Can't imagine anyone will want to play him in the field (and there are a lot of 1B still available) but it's not nothing that you can put him in LF, and that he's used to RF.

And now it can be told, apparently the big sin on the day he got benched was not his initial reaction or anything he said but that he brought a beer into the dugout.

Nick Castellanos on Instagram

[andyb]

He has really been about as good as Austin Hays the last couple of years offensively (and Hays is now a negative defensively too). He'll sign somewhere and I would not be shocked at a 1.5-2.0 WAR season as a DH. We just did not have that role available.

[zambonir]

I agree. And if he does that any team might want him as a trade deadline bench bat given his penchant for hot games (or more) in October.

[andyb]

The full story here from Gelb and the Athletic.

How the Phillies’ $100 million marriage with Nick Castellanos ended in divorce

Makes a good case that while he was a good teammate, he was really not a good team player.

[zambonir]

Well, I always assumed it couldn't have possibly been that bad while it was happening or they wouldn't have kept playing him, or keep him around at all. This story really suggests they should have traded him for nothing at the deadline.

Ironic that Nick vocally complained about Thomson and Long having never played in the majors and now the Phillies have addressed that in his absence.

[zambonir]

Sounds like we can look forward to another story

“That [incident] wasn’t the final or determining factor,” Dombrowski. “Because if it was, we would’ve [released him] at that particular time.”

A beer in the dugout, a benching, and a rift with his manager: Inside the final...

[zambonir]

Don Mattingly wearing #8, haha

Phillies ready to move on without Nick Castellanos, but there’s no escaping...

[David_Criss]

If they are still looking for possible pitching depth, Walker Buehler is still out there. Would he not come back on a minor league deal? Is he worth it?

[phillychuck]

Buehler? Bühler? ...

[zambonir]

I think he's probably about a $4 million guy, though he really doesn't need the money. Proably not taking a minor league deal. The issue for the Phillies is the same as it has always been the last few years, you want starting pitching depth but the good starting pitchers want a guaranteed rotation spot. Quintana and Paddack signed with the Rockies and Marlins because they will pitch. Whereas with the Phillies you are still coming in 7th on the depth chart, 6th while Wheeler is out. And even if you're better than Walker - which none of these guys definitely are - he's making all that money and you can't have two #5 starters clogging up the bullpen if everyone is healthy.

Minor league deal is definitely the answer but that's what gets you the Kolby Allards and Vince Velasquezs of the world. Phillies do have the ability to offer one with a generous major league component and/or opt-outs but then you're still looking at the same issue, the pitcher knows he's going to be released or request his release unless there are injuries.

[flyers19rw]

a possible Buehler's addition could give Painter some support for his recovery from TJ surgery. Buehler's been through it several times now. If anyone understands the process of rehabbing this injury, it would be him.

[Jazzhead]

I'm surprised Zach Littell hasn't signed yet. He sounds like a perfect back end starter, with good control and the ability to pitch deep into games. Might give up a few too many longballs to flourish in CBP, but he'll limit baserunners.

[zambonir]

Seems like the Phillies' paying Nick has helped the Padres take a few more pitchers off the market: Griffin Canning and German Marquez.

This actually mentions Giolito, Littell and Scherzer, with the prediction that the Phillies sign Scherzer. No reporting there of course. It does mention Scherzer is willing to wait until the season starts to join a team so that might suit the Phillies if necessary.

Predicting when and where the 6 best MLB free agents remaining will sign

[zambonir]

All the chatter yesterday was about Harper still addressing Dombrowski's "not elite" comments, but to me this was more of a shot across the Phillies bow (even if it's also part of a calculated anti-salary cap messaging campaign).

Bryce Harper, Manny Machado laud Dodgers’ spending amid expiring CBA concerns

But Harper, who is represented by mega-agent Scott Boras, argues that the Dodgers’ success comes from more than their spending. The two-time National League MVP lauded the organization’s infrastructure, citing “unbelievable” drafting and developing.

“People don’t look at this either,” Harper said. “Like they draft and they develop, and then they trade those guys for big-name guys, and they can spend the money. It bothers me when everybody talks about the Dodgers spending money. No, they draft, they develop, they do it the right way. They understand what it takes to be the best team in baseball.”

The Dodgers enter this season with the third-best farm system in baseball, per The Athletic’s Keith Law. They had seven prospects land on The Athletic’s top 100 prospect rankings, more than any organization. They also boast a strong international and amateur drafting scouting system, and are generally considered by their peers to have one of the top player development systems in the league.

[phillychuck]

Maybe we can trade Harper to the Dodgers for a few of those prospects...

[flyers19rw]

It wouldn’t surprise me that once the A’s get situated in Vegas, Harper demands to be traded there.

[zambonir]

His contract might be up then.

But also, we would probably be happy to trade him, if not for the value PC dreams of. It's hard to imagine the Phillies getting to 2031 without at least one sell-off. Also hard to imagine the team being able to live with Joey Votto-like production when he's 37 and 38 (though Votto was actually good at 37 and okay at 36. 38 and 39 was the crater). Especially if Turner's also still around.

And if he really does push for an extension later in the decade, that could lead to a trade too.

[VoteForKalas]

Harper is dead right unfortunately and the contrast with the Dodgers is not favorable for the Phillies.

[andyb]

Painter adjusting his arm slot seems a good idea. Not sure I love him jumping right into the rotation with it though instead of a half dozen starts in AAA.

Phillies’ Andrew Painter begins an important spring training with a higher arm...

[Philsmania]

It does seem like Harper may be laying the groundwork for a Philadelphia exit strategy. Remember, after 2028, his salary goes down to $22 million a year which would make him potentially very palatable.