Mar 8, 2024; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos (8) signs autographs before the start of the spring training game against the Houston Astros at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Jonathan Dyer
CLEARWATER — You're always sure to be entertained when Nick Castellanos speaks. Sunday morning was no different.
During the offseason, Castellanos' wife, Jess, revealed on social media that the two-time All-Star is no longer represented by Scott Boras. He explained that decision in his first meeting with the media of 2025.
"I think that just now I probably would want the opportunity," Castellanos said. "To say like I'm not not ever going to be represented again, it's not like I'm against having an agent. I just think that where it was with Scott it was at a point where I just wanted an opportunity to speak for myself.
"You know, I have no malice towards the Boras Organization at all," Castellanos continued. "I texted him congrats when that [Juan] Soto contract came out. He's very good at what he does. But I think that as far as now if anything pertains to my career, I'd rather just have that conversation with my employer."
Castellanos says he spoke with Boras about his decision to represent himself last August when the Phillies were in Los Angeles — where the sport's most influential agent is based out of — facing the Dodgers.
Given that Castellanos is entering the fourth season of a five-year/$100 million contract, you wouldn't think there's a ton that he has to do in representing himself. But there's not nothing.
Nick Castellanos explains why he chose to represent himself.
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/Mo6dbQisqI
In a January appearance on "The Chris Rose Rotation," Castellanos revealed that he had directly texted president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to check on whether a trade rumor linking him and Alec Bohm to the Houston Astros in a package for Kyle Tucker was legitimate.
That's the type of thing you usually have your agent do, so there's a buffer between the team and player and feelings don't get hurt. But Castellanos reiterated Sunday that he is comfortable just getting that information directly from Dombrowski.
"Well, this offseason was like 'Hey, these trades came out, is this true?' You know, I can just go to the person who would be trading me, and then when he tells me no, now I have that information," Castellanos said.
Would Castellanos have been comfortable going directly to Dombrowski and asking about the legitimacy of a trade rumor in prior years, or is that something he feels emboldened to do now that he's his own agent?
"Well I think that I'm just more comfortable now that I don't feel intimidated to go to anybody who is employing me to go and ask questions about my status or wellbeing," Castellanos said. "But when you're younger and all you know is having an agent, you can feel intimidated or you're not supposed to go to the general manager of a team and ask a question on your behalf. You'd have to go through your legal representation to go and talk to them because the one-on-one could be [uncomfortable]. Like 'Oh, don't do that.' I'm past that point."
In a couple years when Castellanos is approaching free agency, who knows if he'll continue to serve as his own agent. But don't be surprised if he does — Castellanos is unapologetically himself, and it's worked pretty well for him across parts of 12 MLB seasons.
Want more Philadelphia Phillies news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for THE Philly Sports Newsletter here. 100% free, always
