Nick Castellanos did not need much time to catch on with a new team after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Castellanos is signing with the San Diego Padres, according to multiple reports. The Padres will only have to pay him the league minimum, as the Phillies will be paying the remainder of his salary for 2026.
Castellanos is expected to play some combination of designated hitter and first baseman for the Padres, though he may still get some time in the outfield.
Castellanos will be some combo of DH, 1B and OF for Padres. RF is booked obvs. Signed pending physical.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 14, 2026
The Padres obviously were not too concerned about the unflattering revelations that came out about Castellanos after his release from the Phillies. They are betting that there is something left in the former All-Star’s bat that can help them as they try to reach the playoffs again.
It has been several years since Castellanos was a quality hitter. Last season, he hit .250 with 17 home runs for Philadelphia, good for only a .694 OPS. The biggest problem was a major decline in power, as he went from hitting 29 home runs in 2023 to last year’s much lower total.
Castellanos turns 34 next month. The Padres are gambling that a change of scenery will benefit him at this stage of his career.
