Things have been far from calm in the Philadelphia Phillies’ world lately. Not just because of the trade deadline buzz, though. The Phillies, despite sitting on top of the NL East, seem to be facing internal issues that could shake up their clubhouse. One name that is at the eye of the storm is none other than Nick Castellanos.

Just a few weeks ago, Castellanos was benched for a game against the Miami Marlins. And it was not due to injury or rest, but more a disciplinary move. The outfielder had been pulled late in the game for a defensive switch, which is a standard in a tight contest. But Castellanos didn’t take it with a pinch of salt. He voiced his frustrations, and manager Rob Thomson was not thrilled. As a result, he was benched for a game!

But he handled the matter publicly in a measured way, saying, “It’s his decision. He’s the manager.” However, it only raised more eyebrows. For a player who has appeared in 236 games, being pulled was pretty telling. And now the trade buzz is coming in hot.

MLB insider Jon Heyman recently said The Show, “Nick Castellanos is my surprise guy… He’s obviously on a contending team—not just a contending team, first-place Phillies team. It feels like, right at the moment, he’s not really getting along there like the way he did in Detroit and Chicago.” Heyman added that while it’s not an extremely likely trade given Castellanos’s contract and also his role, he won’t be shocked to see it happen.

For a team searching for playoff readiness, that says something. Plus, the entire fiasco with the manager was odd! And it doesn’t help that the Phillies’ outfield continues to be a weakness. The Max Kepler experiment has not worked. Brandon Mash has shown flashes but hasn’t stepped into a starring role. Castellanos, while capable of those clutch moments, has been streaky. It’s a unit that’s been lagging behind the rest of the roster. Dave Dombrowski knows this outfield isn’t World Series caliber. Whether it is a quiet shuffle or a blockbuster one, something might just happen.

It’s like the same old song and dance from last year, when Dombrowski was forced to make the deadline deals for help in the outfield and bullpen—and it might be the same this time.

Phillies’ outfield puzzle could spark deadline moves

However, Heyman mentioned Castellanos is his “surprise” choice when it comes to the trade candidate. So, who are the obvious ones? Well, other names are going around. That’s where Brandon Marsh comes in. The 27-year-old center fielder didn’t do himself any favors this season. He was in a slump of 0-for-31 before landing up in IL in April. He dragged a terrible .095/.220/.167 slash line with him. But here is the deal: ever since coming off the IL, he has been quietly raking. Since May 3, the stat line .303/.364/.419 says it all. Not bad for someone who was written off a few months ago, right? Now his name is back, not for demotion but as a trade piece.

Even The Athletic’s Matt Gelb mentioned Marsh as a possible deadline mover, along with Max Kepler. Now Kepler’s contract makes him harder to offload, but Marsh could fetch the Phillies something useful back. Maybe they get a right-handed bat, a bullpen arm, or even a prospect. There is also a buzz that moving Marsh means it would open the door for Phillies prospect Justin Crawford.

Still, it is crucial to know Marsh—and while he has nearly 1900 career plate appearances, he is not full-time material. He has struggled against the lefties and has a high strikeout rate. The bottom line is that Marsh is a quality option, but the position he plays is premium. If the Phillies are serious about making a deep October run, they will need more than just “solid” out there.

Who do you think will be on the way out? Let us know in the comments.