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The Philadelphia Phillies have surged toward one of the top playoff spots in the National League after upgrading their outfield and it could soon mean the end of their time with slugger Nick Castellanos.
After bringing in Harrison Bader at the trade deadline, the Phillies have been mixing and matching playing time between Bader, Castellanos, Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh to great results. As a result, rumors have circulated that the Phillies could look to trade Castellanos away to get out of the final year of his contract, even if that means eating some of the $20 million he will be owed next year.
And following that news, Major League Baseball analyst Jim Riley floated a trade idea that would send Castellanos to the New York Mets as a substitute for another outfield star.
“The Philadelphia Phillies have a desire to trade Nick Castellanos and even eat some of that contract. Now that that’s out there, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s on the move,” Riley said. “He could play left field for the Yankees if (Cody) Bellinger leaves.”
Bellinger has enjoyed a resurgent season for the Yankees and that makes it likely he will opt out of the final year of his contract and seek something larger in free agency. If the Yankees want to pivot away from the veteran, Castellanos could make sense as a short-term replacement. He will have one year left on his deal, potentially pro-rated by the Phillies, and that could be the right kind of bridge to top Yankees prospect Spencer Jones.
With both teams stuck in the thick of the playoff race, nothing will be determined about a potential trade in the near future. But on paper, the idea of sending Castellanos to the Bronx does make some sense.
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