Should the Cubs Bring Back a Beloved Outfielder?
The Chicago Cubs, like any other contending team, is always trying to fill in the margins, attempting to add value and plug up any potential problem areas that could be unforeseen. That’s why the team remains active in talks with free agent pitcher Zac Gallen and now some fans want a former outfielder back to add another bat to the bench. Yet, sometimes you have to leave the past behind because as much as Nick Castellanos was great for the Cubs in 2019, he has no place on this 2026 roster.
After months of speculation surrounding Castellanos’ future the Philadelphia Phillies finally broke off their relationship with him and released the 33-year-old. The DH/outfielder signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Phillies after 2021, which means they’ll be eating the final year of his deal that still guarantees Castellanos $20 million for the 2026 season.
There’s a lot of drama surfacing from this break up as Castellanos admitted on social media that he brought a beer to the dugout after he was pulled from a game in Miami and was then benched the next game. He reportedly yelled at manager Rob Thompson and coaches. Castellanos was benched the next game. After the Phillies released him Thursday, The Athletic published an article detailing the fallout between Castellanos and the team.
A pretty brutal look for Castellanos to say the least. That article cited more than 12 players who were willing to talk about Castellanos and how things went bad in 2025.
But let’s stick with the on-field production for the sake of this argument. Before we begin, the money isn’t an issue. Any team that signs Castellanos now will only have to pay him the league minimum, while the Phillies would cover the rest of his guaranteed salary for the season.
Would Castellanos be a good fit on the 2026 Cubs? It’s a definite no from my perspective. For starters, Castellanos has proven to be a defensive liability and we’re not talking about a guy who isn’t good, or just bad or very bad.
He is flat out the worst defensive outfielder in MLB and has been for a decade.
So, if the Cubs do add him you would never want him playing on defense, which makes Castellanos a DH-only option off the bench. That limits your flexibility, especially when you consider that the Cubs are already going to have Moises Ballesteros as a mainly DH option this season.
Plus, we’re a long ways removed from his glory days at the plate. Castellanos was a monster back in 2019, when the Cubs traded for him and then he had a career year in 2021, with the Cincinnati Reds, leading to his $100 million deal with the Phillies. However, from 2022-25, Castellanos has combined to be a league average hitter, coming in at exactly a 100 wRC+ with a slash line of .260/.306/.426.
Oh, but just bat him against left-handed pitchers. Sure, that platoon could make sense with Ballesteros primarily facing right-handed pitching, but Castellanos has been trending downward against LHP the past three years.
Nick Castellanos vs. LHP (Since 2023)
2023: 187 PA, .930 OPS, 147 wRC+, 8 HR
2024: 170 PA, .830 OPS, 124 wRC+, 10 HR
2025: 188 PA, .680 OPS, 87 wRC+, 5 HR
I just wouldn’t be a fan of bringing Castellanos back, knowing he would only be a DH, and not only do his on-paper results look bad so do his hitting metrics.
Need to fill in those plate appearances against lefties from the DH spot in 2026? Use Matt Shaw. He was a lot better than Castellanos last year, posting a 125 wRC+ with six home runs in 110 plate appearances vs. left-handers.
Sorry Nick, but it’s a no from me.