Schwarber Dodges Question on Castellanos' Phillies Exit

Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was reluctant to discuss former teammate's departure.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In a recent interview, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber was asked about the impact of Nick Castellanos' departure from the team during the 2025 season. Schwarber responded with an obvious stutter, saying the situation was "neither here nor there" and that the team "did what we did" despite not executing well in their playoff series against the Dodgers.

Why it matters

Castellanos' exit from the Phillies was a contentious issue, marked by incidents like him bringing a beer into the dugout and confronting manager Rob Thomson. Schwarber's evasive response suggests the situation was still a sensitive topic for the team, even after Castellanos signed with the Padres in the offseason.

The details

Last June, Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins and confronted manager Rob Thomson, with Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto attempting to diffuse the situation. This was part of the heightened tension that permeated the rest of the season, ultimately leading to Castellanos' release despite having one year and $20 million left on his contract.

  • In June 2025, Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout and confronted manager Rob Thomson.
  • The Phillies finished the 2025 season at 96-66 and won the NL East, but were defeated by the Dodgers in the ALDS.

The players

Kyle Schwarber

A Philadelphia Phillies outfielder who was reluctant to discuss former teammate Nick Castellanos' departure from the team.

Nick Castellanos

A former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder who was released by the team after the 2025 season and signed with the San Diego Padres.

Rob Thomson

The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, who was involved in a confrontation with Nick Castellanos during the 2025 season.

J.T. Realmuto

A Philadelphia Phillies player who attempted to diffuse the situation between Castellanos and manager Rob Thomson.

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What they’re saying

“It's neither here nor there. We did what we did. We felt like in the Dodgers' series, we played good games. There's things that we didn't execute and we didn't walk away with wins at the end of the day. So it's hard.”

— Kyle Schwarber (OnPattison)

What’s next

The Phillies will enter the 2026 season without Castellanos, who signed with the Padres after being released by the team.

The takeaway

Schwarber's evasive response highlights the lingering tensions within the Phillies organization following Castellanos' departure, underscoring the challenges the team faced in managing high-profile personalities and maintaining team chemistry during their playoff run.