I get why Nick Castellanos cut his hair but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.
Current Depth Chart (Via Fangraphs)
Right Field
MLB- Nick Castellanos
AAA- Matt Kroon
AA- Dylan Campbell
A+ Jordan Viars
Center Field
MLB- Brandon Marsh & Johan Rojas
AAA- Cal Stevenson & Óscar Mercado
AA- Justin Crawford
A+ Dante Nori
A- Griffin Burkholder
Left Field
MLB- Max Kepler, Weston Wilson
AAA- Gabriel Rincones Jr. & Marcus Sang Lee
AA- Leandro Pineda
A+ Joel Dragoo
A- John Spikerman & TJayy Walton
Position Battles this Spring
Weston Wilson was likely the best fit of the remaining options available for the final spot. He doesn’t necessarily count as an outfielder since he’s a shortstop by trade but he was likely seeing left field as his primary position to make the club.
However, Wilson strained his oblique and is out the next six weeks. He will also need an extended rehab process because that’s what happens when you miss almost all of camp. It’s extremely tough timing for someone in his position.
This gives other converted infielders like Buddy Kennedy, Kody Clemens, or Christian Arroyo a chance to make the club as a fifth outfielder. Maybe it is someone who isn’t in the organization currently.
Important Contract Details
Max Kepler signed a one-year deal to play left field most days. He is 32 years old with an extensive injury history so his commitment to the Phillies is likely only remaining one season.
Nick Castellanos has two years and $40 million left on his contract. He is now 33 and on the back nine of his career. There have been trade rumors the past two seasons because of the contract and there will likely be more. He’s probably gone in two years.
Brandon Marsh has three seasons of club control remaining and will hit free agency when he’s 30. There will probably be trade rumors about him over the next few seasons, but with how uncertain the other two spots are, it’s hard to imagine him getting traded.
Overview
When you look at the other three position groups on the roster, there seems to be plenty of attention to detail, strong fits across the depth chart, and an identity. There is a bigger picture of how each group wants to play and feel.
The outfield lacks the same vision. It mostly feels like a cast of different ideas to piece a group together.
Brandon Marsh was traded to be the future center fielder, then he wasn’t, and now he is the short-term center fielder. They say they want him to play every day and never act on it (Marsh doesn’t give them good reason to either).
Nick Castellanos is a solid player but not worth the contract and should probably play less right field going forward but can’t with Kyle Schwarber here. Max Kepler feels more like an admission of Rojas not taking a step forward as an everyday player than an inspiring decision.
It’s hard to say each of these players lifts one another. This is a contrast to the infield where Trea Turner and Bryson Stott lift each other. Turner makes up for the power while Stott is more of a strong glove and disciplined.
It’s also hard to say the group carries an identity. They’re not good enough defensively to stand out but luckily not bad enough to be concerned. They possess three hitters who should combine for a solid wRC+ but nothing spectacular.
The bench also feels a similar way of different plans not working out. Johan Rojas was supposed to become the everyday center fielder and didn’t. They have spent years trying to find cheap right-handed options like Cristian Pache, Whit Merrifield, and Austin Hays only for it to be Weston Wilson (until now).
Is the outfield going to be bad next season? Probably not. Are these concerns worth keeping anyone up at night? Probably not. The outfield is so spectacular in how unspectacular it is. However, when you’re a club trying to win a championship then the standards should likely be higher.
Here is a question for everyone: Would anyone be surprised if any of these players were gone in the next 18-24 months? Probably not right.
The prospects come with their questions that make the outlook of this position group a little bleak. Justin Crawford has risen fast but the swing is a mess and he will likely carry a below-average approach. His glove is also more solid than great. The Phillies also haven’t shown they’re capable of fixing those issues.
Gabriel Rincones Jr. put together a short but promising season in AA Reading last year. A strong camp would help the Phillies’ 2026 outlook but Rincones profiles more like a platoon option than an everyday player.
Some of this is fine, especially since they will continue carrying high payrolls and other outfielders will be available in the future. The long-term dread could easily be answered by throwing more money and trades at the problem just like how they’re solving 2025.
However, that probably can’t always be the answer, especially as other parts of the roster continue to age. It’s not that the short or long-term plans will be a disaster, they likely won’t, but nothing feels particularly inspiring.