Earlier this season, the Phillies manager made headlines when he benched Nick Castellanos for an “inappropriate comment.” This ended Castellanos’ streak of starting 236 games in a row. However, on Saturday night against the Royals, Rob Thomson returned to his 33-year-old slugger and got precisely what he needed.

The pressure was immense in the fifth inning when Kyle Schwarber knotted the game at 4-4. Then, came the move— Thomson brought in Nick Castellanos to hit for Max Kepler, and he didn’t disappoint. Castellanos came through with a sac fly that put the Phillies ahead. Then, Otto Kemp hit a double that drove in a run, Schwarber added another, and Brandon Marsh hit a homer in the seventh to end the game. With that win, Philadelphia has lost only 1 of the last 10 games.

Post-game, when asked whether the decision to pinch-hit Nick Castellanos was a matchup move, Thomson said that it was. “Yeah, they didn’t have a right hander up. So I knew that they couldn’t match up for [Castellanos]. So I thought, and that’s their best left hand, and I thought that was just the time to go. We take the lead here, we got a good shot.” This wasn’t just strategy — it was trust under pressure.

The Royals’ bullpen puzzle had left them open: Zerpa, a left-handed reliever, couldn’t sidestep the strength of the Phillies’ right-handed pinch-hit bench. Thomson felt the chance, and it changed the game.

This game and that benching earlier in the year draw a sharp contrast.

While back in June, Nick was benched, and then again, on August 29, due to defensive reasons, it shows that the skipper really has the team’s best interest in mind. “We’re all in. And whatever is best for the team to win a game…we’re all in,” he shared that Friday in August. And now, Topper’s choice to bring Castellanos into a key tie game speaks more than simply tactics—it’s proof that trust can be rebuilt, one clutch moment at a time.

Nick Castellanos got a hit at the right time in this game, but overall, he hasn’t been doing well this season. He has a .255 batting average, 16 home runs, 65 RBIs, and an OPS of .709. The numbers tell it how it is: Castellanos hit just .180 last month, with two doubles, two home runs, and a .590 OPS. Those falls in numbers might mark his last season in the Phillies.

Castellanos’ future in Philly uncertain

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies “shopped” right fielder Nick Castellanos last offseason and “will be much more aggressive trying to move him this winter, even eating a significant portion of his remaining $20 million salary.” The tensions go beyond this.

He was taken out of a close game against the Braves in the ninth inning, and he made an amazing throw to get Matt Olson out at home plate. The manager maintained that the transfer was a defensive move, but Castellanos said it was a “big adjustment” and that there was “no conversation” about it. These kinds of things show how his future can change with the clubhouse.

The financial truth is harsh: Castellanos is guaranteed $20 million for 2026, the last year of his five-year, $100 million deal. Philadelphia would have to negotiate its contract a lot to find someone to accept it. He’s not a very good outfielder, and his output is going down, so the Phillies can’t afford to keep him while they look for ways to improve their chances of winning the championship.

The way the market works hurts both parties. Several reports say that the Phillies are getting more and more desperate to trade their outfielder, but his poor defense and high salary make it hard for other clubs to sign him. Even if he takes a pay cut, it might not be enough to attract other clubs looking for immediate results rather than a long-term deal.

If no deal happens, the Phillies may let him go instead of making him sit on the bench with that salary. This would free up a spot on the roster and save them some money. The sac fly on Saturday was a great play, but business choices are different, and only winter will tell how this will turn out for Nick Castellanos.