Phillies Release Castellanos After Beer Incident

Outfielder Nick Castellanos brought Presidente beer into dugout, leading to his release from Philadelphia

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Philadelphia Phillies have released outfielder Nick Castellanos, even though they owe him $20 million for the final season of his contract. The decision was made after Castellanos angrily brought a beer into the dugout last June, breaking a team rule. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he's "proud" of Castellanos for owning up to the incident.

Why it matters

The Phillies' decision to release Castellanos highlights the importance of team chemistry and following rules, even for star players. The incident contributed to a disappointing season for Castellanos, who saw his production decline. The Phillies are now moving on, securing a replacement in Adolis García.

The details

In a June game against the Miami Marlins, Phillies manager Rob Thomson pulled Castellanos from the game for defensive purposes in the 8th inning. Upset, Castellanos brought a Presidente beer into the dugout, violating team rules. Castellanos later apologized to Thomson and Phillies president Dave Dombrowski, but the damage was done. Castellanos' defensive struggles and overall decline in production also played a role in the team's decision to release him.

  • On June 16, 2025, Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout after being pulled from a game against the Marlins.
  • Castellanos met with Thomson and Dombrowski after the game to "air out their differences".

The players

Nick Castellanos

A 33-year-old outfielder who was in the fourth year of a five-year, $100 million contract with the Phillies.

Rob Thomson

The manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dave Dombrowski

The president of baseball operations for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Adolis García

An outfielder who the Phillies signed to a $10 million, one-year contract in December to replace Castellanos.

Kyle Schwarber

A slugger for the Philadelphia Phillies who wished Castellanos the best moving forward.

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What they’re saying

“I'm proud of him because he owned up to what he did and, hey, we all make mistakes. Nick had helped us out in a lot of ways here. He's had some big hits and big plays and helped us win a lot ballgames. So I do, I wish him all the best.”

— Rob Thomson, Manager, Philadelphia Phillies (cbsnews.com)

“A lot of times when a good player has their role change with the club, it can cause some friction, and his role changed last year from where it was. I mean you played every single day for a lot years in a row, and so sometimes that can contribute to it. Sometimes then people have debates between themselves where they're not all on the same page. But when you put all that together, sometimes you just need to make sure that you have a change of scenery.”

— Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations, Philadelphia Phillies (cbsnews.com)

“We've had a lot of really good memories here over the last four years and he's had some really big moments with us. Hopefully wherever he goes next, he's able to keep going out there and keep doing his thing and keep having those big moments.”

— Kyle Schwarber (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Phillies have signed Adolis García to a $10 million, one-year contract to replace Castellanos in the outfield.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of team chemistry and discipline, even for star players. The Phillies felt they needed to move on from Castellanos despite owing him $20 million, prioritizing a cohesive clubhouse culture over short-term production.