New Padre Nick Castellanos Takes Veiled Swipe at Former Skipper, Praises Manager Who Has “Done It”
Fresh off his signing with the San Diego Padres, veteran slugger Nick Castellanos wasted little time drawing a sharp contrast between his new leadership and the organization he just left. Speaking to reporters at the Padres’ spring training complex in Peoria on Sunday, Castellanos cited manager Craig Stammen’s playing experience as a key factor in his excitement for the 2026 season—a comment widely interpreted as a parting shot at Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
“He’s very passionate as far as how much he cares not only about the team but about the individuals,” Castellanos said of Stammen, who was hired as the Padres’ skipper in November 2025. “And he’s a player. He’s done it. He’s put on spikes. He’s grinded. He’s felt the feeling of success and also felt the feeling when the game doesn’t go his way. So there’s a lot of respect in that.”
Deep Search: The Subtext of “Done It”
While on the surface a compliment to Stammen, Castellanos’ emphasis on playing experience appears to be a direct reference to the friction that defined his final days in Philadelphia. Reports following his release revealed that Castellanos had told teammates he struggled to trust Thomson and hitting coach Kevin Long specifically because they “had never played in the majors.” Thomson peaked at Class A in the Tigers’ minor league system, while Long played in the minors for the Royals.
In contrast, Craig Stammen spent 13 seasons as a major league reliever, including a six-year stint with the Padres that ended in 2022. Castellanos’ comments suggest that for him, credibility in the dugout is tied directly to a resume that includes time on a big-league roster—a credential his former manager lacked.
Objections and Counterpoints
Critics might argue that Castellanos’ correlation between MLB playing experience and managerial competence is flawed. Many of the game’s most successful modern managers—including Thomson, who led the Phillies to a World Series appearance in 2022, and Atlanta’s Brian Snitker—never played a single inning in the major leagues. Furthermore, the “trust” issue may have been mutual; Castellanos’ performance regressed significantly in 2025, posting a -0.8 WAR and struggling defensively, which likely contributed to the Phillies’ decision to eat nearly $19 million in salary just to move on from him.
Background: A Fresh Start for All Parties
The Padres signed Castellanos to a one-year, league-minimum contract ($780,000) on Saturday, just days after his unceremonious release from Philadelphia. The Phillies remain on the hook for the vast majority of the $20 million owed to him for the final year of his contract.
The tension between player and club in Philadelphia boiled over during the “Miami Incident” in June 2025. After being removed from a game for a defensive replacement, a frustrated Castellanos reportedly brought a beer into the dugout—a violation of club rules that led to a benching and a fractured relationship with the coaching staff.
Now in San Diego, Castellanos is expected to split time between DH and first base, potentially spelling Fernando Tatis Jr. or others in the outfield. He joins a Padres team led by Stammen, a rookie manager who, despite having no prior managerial experience, possesses the one qualification Castellanos apparently values above all others: he has “done it” on the field.
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