The Philadelphia Phillies have undoubtedly built one of the most expensive rosters. From Bryce Harper to Trea Turner to Aaron Nola to Zac Wheeler—the list of stars keeps going. Yet few have been as impactful as Kyle Schwarber, the DH who has become a fan favorite. But with that comes pressure, given free agency is looming, and his future with the Phillies is looking a whole lot uncertain.

See, Schwarber is not just another name in the lineup. Since landing in Philly, he has been a spark for the team. This year, he has been on another level entirely. Fifty-three home runs, 129 RBIs, and an OPS pushing. 935—This is career highs across the board. Now the kicker is that numbers don’t just win games; they also drive up the price tags.

This brings us to a huge question—can the Philadelphia Phillies really afford to keep him? On the surface, it seems like they can. With ownership willing to spend, locking him makes sense. But it seems like the team did try, and nothing came out of it—just about yet.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale revealed that the Phillies actually tried to sign Schwarber before the 2025 season began. “The Phillies did try to sign DH Kyle Schwarber before the start of the season, but the two sides never came close to reaching an agreement,” said Bob Nightengale. And this is the part that stings. Schwarber was signed to a $79 million deal ahead of the season. But now, he is apparently to make $30 million annually. That’s a $20 million per year increase, which is huge.

But here is the thing—yesterday’s price is not today’s price, and the Phillies do know it. Meanwhile, the drama on the field is not making things simple. Rob Thomson just admitted that Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks was a tough pill to swallow. Especially with the Milwaukee Brewers winning and pulling three games ahead for the top NL seed. Meanwhile, there is another pressing matter the Phillies are staring down.

Nick Castellanos’s Phillies future is in doubt!

The Phillies are gearing up for what seems to be the postseason run of this era. Even without Zack Wheeler, the roster feels strong enough to make a strong run. But lurking behind all this noise about October is another buzz—and it’s all to do with Nick Castellanos. Now, he has had a strange journey in Philadelphia. He was once a $100 million centerpiece, but now he is sharing right field with Max Kepler in a platoon role. And this is not exactly cost-effective, but it has worked out this season. Still, the sense around the league is that Castellanos’s time in red pinstripes is nearing its end. He and Rob Thompson did have a disagreement this season, which also made things complicated.

And even here Bob Nightengale steps in with another piece of bombshell news. According to him, the trade is not possible; it is inevitable. Nightingale says, “The question for the Phillies is not whether they will bring back outfielder Nick Castellanos. But how much will it cost when they trade him away, realizing they will have to eat a substantial portion of his $20 million contract in 2026?” 

So here the scenario is that Castellanos is likely playing out his final year in Philadelphia. Fans are wondering if he can at least help deliver a World Series ring before he packs his bags. His bat has held immense value in postseason games, with a .898 OPS since 2023. But his defense is a question mark, and his regular-season numbers are mediocre at best. So for the Phillies, moving Castellanos is as much about opening a roster spot as it is about saving money, too.

The only suspense is where Castellanos really lands now. Where do you think?