Padres Sign Nick Castellanos to League Minimum Deal Following Contentious Phillies Exit
The San Diego Padres have agreed to a one-year major league contract with veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos, securing the two-time All-Star for the league minimum salary of roughly $780,000. The deal comes just days after the Philadelphia Phillies unconditionally released Castellanos, absorbing the nearly $20 million remaining on the final year of his contract.
Deep Search: The Financials and Fit
This signing represents a low-risk, potentially high-reward financial maneuver for San Diego. Because Philadelphia is responsible for the vast majority of the $20 million owed to Castellanos for the 2026 season, the Padres have added a proven power hitter to their roster for a fraction of his market value.
Castellanos, who turns 34 in March, is expected to serve primarily as a designated hitter or a right-handed bat off the bench. Reports indicate he may also see time at first base—a position he has practiced but never played in a professional game—adding a layer of experimental versatility to the Padres’ lineup. He joins an outfield rotation that already features Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Ramón Laureano, potentially creating a logjam that manager Craig Stammen will need to navigate carefully.
Background: A Fractured Ending in Philadelphia
Castellanos’ departure from Philadelphia was precipitated by a sharp decline in production and growing friction within the clubhouse. In 2025, his offensive output dipped significantly; he slashed .250/.294/.400 with 17 home runs and a .694 OPS across 147 games. His OPS+ of 88 was his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2013.
The relationship with the Phillies organization reportedly soured over the last year. Tensions boiled over following an incident in Miami where Castellanos was benched after allegedly bringing a beer into the dugout during a game—a violation of team rules he later addressed in a handwritten public letter. He also publicly criticized manager Rob Thomson’s communication style, suggesting that the team’s restrictions were “not conducive to winning.” These off-field distractions, combined with a -0.6 WAR performance, motivated the Phillies to cut ties despite the heavy financial sunk cost.
Objections and Concerns
While the financial risk for San Diego is minimal, significant baseball concerns remain regarding Castellanos’ current viability as a contributor for a contending team.
Defensive Liability: Castellanos has long been considered one of the league’s weakest defensive outfielders. In 2025, he posted -12 Outs Above Average (OAA), ranking him near the bottom of all qualified fielders. If the Padres intend to use him in the field, particularly in the spacious outfield of Petco Park, it could prove costly.
Declining Bat Speed: Advanced metrics suggest his bat speed and reaction times are slowing. His strikeout rate remains high, and his inability to catch up to high-velocity fastballs has become a more pronounced hole in his swing.
Positional Uncertainty: The suggestion that he could play first base is purely theoretical at this stage. Learning a new defensive position at age 34 at the major league level is historically difficult and rarely successful.
Despite these objections, the Padres are banking on a change of scenery revitalizing a hitter who, as recently as 2023, hit 29 home runs and drove in 106 runs. If Castellanos can return to even league-average production, the Padres will have pulled off one of the offseason’s most efficient bargains.
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