The Philadelphia Phillies have made their outfield set in stone, according to President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
After the signing of free agent outfielder Adolis Garcia, it is reported that it’s likely their only outfield addition this offseason.
Garcia is expected to man right field, as he has for most of his career. Brandon Marsh will be in left field, at least in a platoon fashion against right-handed pitching.
However, center field will go to one of the Phillies’ top prospects, Justin Crawford.
“If you’re going to give Crawford an opportunity, you’ve got to give it to him,” Dombrowski said to the media. “And that’s where we are. We’re going to give him an opportunity and have him play a lot.”
What Can Phillies Fans Expect From Crawford?
The Phillies’ first-round pick back in 2022, Crawford, is rated as the third-best prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies’ system behind shortstop Aidan Miller and pitcher Andrew Painter, per MLB Pipeline. He is also the No. 54 prospect in baseball.
Crawford, 21, is the son of four-time all-star Carl Crawford, who, much like Justin, possesses elite speed and baserunning ability.
While he has only hit 19 home runs in four minor league seasons, Crawford has stolen 145 bases during that timeframe, including 40+ in each of the last three seasons.
While he has below-average power, his hit tool is better than advertised. Crawford has hit over .310 in each of the last three seasons, with an OPS above .800 in each of those years.
He profiles as an above-average fielder with a plus arm. His defense should only get better as he grows stronger down the road.
The Phillies have confidence that Crawford can be their centerfielder for a long time, and he definitely possesses the tools to do so.
What Does This Mean for Nick Castellanos?
With the signing of Garcia, as well as Dombrowski’s comments, it seems that Nick Castellanos’ time in a Phillies uniform will soon come to an end. No longer is there a fit in the outfield or at designated hitter, nor is there any justification to keep him on his $20 million salary for 2026.
It is expected that Castellanos will be traded this offseason, ending his four-year tenure with Philadelphia.
Acquiring just 1.3 bWAR in those four seasons, hitting 82 home runs, Castellanos’ hitting was just not enough to make up for his horrid defense.
In 2025, Castellanos had -12 Outs Above Average per Baseball Savant, good for the worst mark in the majors. With star slugger Kyle Schwarber slotted in at DH, the fit just isn’t there anymore.
One has to wonder, with Castellanos approaching his age-34 season, whether he should be relegated to being a primary DH, or if a team will take the risk of his poor defense by giving him an outfield spot again.
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