Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos drew attention this week with remarks about the New York Mets and their disappointing season. Speaking on Foul Territory before the Phillies’ National League Division Series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he was asked whether any team’s absence from the postseason surprised him.
“You’re always a little bit surprised when a team goes out and spends $760 million on one player and doesn’t make the playoffs,” Castellanos said, via X (formerly Twitter). “Am I surprised? I don’t know, because baseball is very hard. Not talking sh– or anything, but usually when an acquisition like that is made, a team does better than when they did in the past.”
Castellanos was referring to the Mets’ 15-year, $765 million contract with Juan Soto, signed during the previous offseason. Despite Soto’s individual production, New York failed to reach the postseason, a result that stood out across the league.
- Phillies star Nick Castellanos mocked the Mets for missing the playoffs despite spending $765 million on Juan Soto.
- Soto had an outstanding individual season, but the Mets collapsed late, finishing 13 games behind the Phillies.
- Castellanos also discussed his frustrations with communication issues and playing time under Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
Juan Soto’s Season Numbers and the Mets’ Decline
In his first year with the Mets, Soto hit .263/.396/.525 with 43 home runs, 105 runs batted in, and 38 stolen bases. His OPS+ of 160 and 5.8 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), according to Fangraphs, placed him among the league’s top performers.
The Mets led the National League East Division as late as August 2, but finished 13 games behind the Phillies. From June 13 onward, New York went 38–55 and lost 14 of their final 21 games. Their playoff hopes ended when the Miami Marlins shut them out on the final day of the regular season, a game that would have secured a wild-card spot had they won.
Dodgers Favored as Phillies Face Elimination
As Philadelphia prepares for Game 3 of the NLDS on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, betting markets across major sportsbooks show a consistent advantage for Los Angeles.
At DraftKings, opening odds listed the Dodgers at −163 and the Phillies at +133, with a total of 8 runs. Since the open, Fox Sports has reported that odds have shifted to around Dodgers −178 and Phillies +148, indicating additional betting support for Los Angeles.
FanDuel listed Game 3 at Dodgers −174, Phillies +146, with a run line of −1.5 (+125) and a total of 8 runs (Over −106, Under −114). BetMGM lines were similar, showing the Dodgers at −175 favorites. In series futures, Los Angeles was listed around −1400 to advance, with Philadelphia around +800 to come back from a 0–2 deficit.
At Caesars, a pitching prop for Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola was offered at Under 8.5 outs (+120), while a hitting prop for Freddie Freeman was listed at Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (−127). These markets were reported as available ahead of Game 3.
Covers listed the Dodgers’ moneyline at −160, Phillies +235, and the total at 8 runs. The publication also noted common prop offerings, such as Nick Castellanos Over 0.5 hits (around −120).
Action Network tracked betting trends showing that totals for the series have remained between 7.5 and 8 runs, while moneyline movement has steadily favored the Dodgers since the series began.
Before the NLDS opened, DraftKings Network reported Dodgers −130 to win the series, with World Series futures set at Dodgers +320 and Phillies +475.
Castellanos’ Reputation for Honesty and Internal Frustrations
Nick Castellanos has a well-documented history of speaking openly about his views. This season, he shared his frustration with team communication and playing time. After moving from an everyday starter role to a platoon with Max Kepler, he told Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer in September:
“Communication over the years has been questionable, at least in my experience. There’s just been times where things have been said, and then, over the course of years, I’ll have expectations because I’ll latch on to what’s being said, and then actions would be different. And then I’m kind of left just thinking and whatnot.”
During Game 2 of the NLDS, Castellanos hit a two-run double in the ninth inning, narrowing the Dodgers’ lead to 4–3. Philadelphia ultimately lost, giving Los Angeles a 2–0 series lead.
