Rollercoaster. Yes, that’s what you can call the relationship between Nick Castellanos and the Phillies. With so many ups and downs between them in the last few months that even the biggest Phillies fan would be confused about their future together. And that’s enough fodder for the rumor mills to run overdrive about his trade. MLB insider Bob Nightengale said, “The Phillies, who shopped outfielder Nick Castellanos last winter, will be much more aggressive trying to move him this winter, even eating a significant portion of his remaining $20 million salary.” But why would Castellanos leave the Phillies?

Let’s get back to June, when he was benched for cursing his manager for batting lower in the order. “It was when I got taken out. I wasn’t happy about it. I spoke my mind. (Thomson) said that I crossed a line, so my punishment is that I’m not playing.” And that action has supposedly soured Castellanos’ relationship with the club. And now, the man himself has potentially given a hint about his future.

On Wednesday, Nick Castellanos appeared on the On Base With Mookie Betts podcast and made a cryptic comment, which has the fans speculating about his future. When the host says, “The best place to play baseball is where there is some kind of pressure..”, Castellanos quickly chimes in with, “I think the best place to play baseball is just a place where you’re in love with.” So is he getting that love in Philly?

The answer is ‘probably yes’. In recent weeks, the chatter around the clubhouse has been replaced by some form of harmony. This was evident when, reportedly, manager Rob Thomson promoted Coastellanos as a pinch hitter against the Royals last Saturday. And boy did he deliver, He made a sacrifice fly and made the Phillies win. “Yeah, they didn’t have a right-hander up. So I knew that they couldn’t match up for [Castellanos].” Thomson was all praise after the game, and it shows the trust in the clubhouse.

Castellanos’ $100 million contract with the Phillies would end by 2027, and the slugger is currently hitting .252 with 16 HRs. Hence, he might be right in indicating how much he loves being in Philadelphia.

The Phillies manager had his role in halting Castellanos’ struggle

There are more reasons for Nick Castellanos to patch up with his manager. The biggest reason is the latter’s assistance in bringing the former back to his best.

Back in August, Castellanos was really struggling with just .180 with a .509 OPS over 24 games. Yes, he was still contributing a bit at the plate, but his defense was a real liability. And that’s when Rob Thomson made a key adjustment. He shifted the unit from left and center field to left and right field. Result? The Phillies now have Kepler and Castellanos share time in right, while Marsh and Wilson handle left.

Moreover, since that switch in September, Castellanos has looked much better. He’s batting .280 with a .736 OPS this month. So, the move hasn’t just boosted his offense, but also tightened up the Phillies’ defense and given them more flexibility late in games, whether that’s bringing in a bat for the platoon advantage or a glove to replace Castellanos in the field.

In a way, it feels like Thomson’s decision helped get Castellanos back on track. Right now, he looks like one of the Phillies’ best bets heading into the postseason. Well, sure, there might be tempting trade offers out there, but it doesn’t really make sense for the Phillies to move him. And Castellanos himself finally seems to love playing here.