1 player the Phillies must trade before spring training

96-66 record and NL East title led directly by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series. There they met the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. While many considered the Phillies the favorites, it was the Dodgers who cruised through the division series. Los Angeles defeated Philadelphia in four games en route to a second consecutive World Series title.

Resigning designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, the reigning king of home football, has been a top priority for the president baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski. After Schwarber elected to return to the Phillies for a new five-year contract, Dombrowski and his staff again worked to correct the deficiencies of last season.

Outfielder Adolis Garcia has been added to the outfield mix, while big things are expected of top prospect Justin Crawford as spring training approaches. However, the additions of Garcia and Crawford will leave the Phillies’ outfield crowded. Brandon Marsh will likely play left field, while Nick Castellanos is still on the show the list. Otto Kemp and Schwarber could also see time there. As a result, Dombrowski and the Philadelphia think tank are rumored to be considering moving Castellanos. The sooner they do, the better.

Trading Nick Castellanos could lead to an upgrade for the Phillies

Dealing Castellanos could potentially bring it back a starter who will fill the last spot in the rotation, or the pitching arm of the bullpen. It could even lead to a new center fielder. While the Phillies hope top prospects like Andrew Painter and Crawford play key roles this upcoming season, don’t be surprised to see Dombrowski make a move to solidify those positions. For a roster that has come up short quite a few times in the recent past, every upgrade should stand out.

Castellanos already has replacements on the roster. Dombrowski could also bring back another outfielder in a potential deal. However, if a solid veteran arm emerges, then the Phillies must attack. The rotation is top three of Christopher Sanchez, Aaron Nola and Jesus Luzardo will be bolstered at some point by ace Zack Wheeler. After losing Ranger Suarez to the Boston Red Sox in free agency, Philadelphia needs to replace him.

Calling their division rivals, the Miami Marlins, about their ace Sandy Alcantara might not be a bad idea. The Cincinnati Reds were looking to bolster their lineup with more power. Maybe they would be interested in Castellanos. There are quite a few teams across the big leagues that could use a veteran bat out of the outfield. Will the The Phillies decided to move him ahead of the approach of the 2026 campaign? If so, a potential return to the World Series could soon follow.