Nick Castellanos isn’t the most complete player, but he’s crucial to the winning recipe for the Philadelphia Phillies.
While streaky at the plate, Castellanos has as many big postseason moments as anyone on the roster since the current run of success began in 2022. But his defense has always left plenty to be desired.
As his performance has suffered on both sides of the ball throughout the dog days of summer, it appears the Phillies are weighing a tricky decision.
Earlier this season, manager Rob Thomson removed Castellanos from a game on defense, and the outfielder got so upset about the decision that he got himself benched for the next game with his angry retort.
However, as the games start to mean more, there is a chance the Phillies make more consistent defensive swaps for Castellanos late in contests, according to a report from Charlotte Varner and Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
“I think so,” Thomson said when asked if Castellanos could be removed from more games, per Varner and Gelb. “And maybe there’s a part in him that sees that some rest helps him because it seems like after the days that he’s off, there’s a little more energy in the body.”
Castellanos has a minus-14 fielding run value and minus-13 outs above average this season, both ranking in the first percentile of all Major League Baseball defenders.
It’s never easy for a veteran player to accept a lessened role, and because Castellanos hasn’t had his best offensive season, it will be hard for the 33-year-old not to see a switch like this as some form of punishment.
However, the Phillies have had success because they put the team above all else, and Castellanos knows he needs to get on board with that come playoff time.
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