PEORIA, Arizona.– Just two days after being released, outfielder Nick Castellanos reached an agreement with the San Diego Padres, according to a source.
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Philadelphia Phillies will assume almost all of the remaining $20 million from the last year of his contract, while San Diego would pay the league minimum salary (around US$780,000). The deal is pending a physical examination and has not yet been made official by the club.
How does it fit in San Diego?
General Manager A.J. Preller had recently expressed his intention to add a bat to strengthen the offense. Castellanos could primarily serve as a designated hitter, although he is also an option to alternate at first base.
The Dominican
Fernando Tatis Jr. has the right field secured, while Ramón Laureano is shaping up as the starter in left field. At first base, Gavin Sheets starts as the favorite, but Castellanos could see action there, especially against left-handed pitchers, sharing turns with the also Dominican Miguel Andújar.
Castellanos comes from a discreet season in Philadelphia, in which he batted .250 with an OPS of .694. N, he has averaged 23 home runs in the last three campaigns, a power contribution that the Padres need after ranking 28th in home runs last season.
A tense exit from Philadelphia
The Phillies decided to release the veteran after a winter in which they tried to trade him without success. The relationship deteriorated after several internal episodes, including an incident in 2025 in which the player expressed his frustration after being defensively substituted.
Despite this, Castellanos left important moments in Philadelphia: he was an All-Star in 2023 and was part of the team that reached the World Series in 2022.
With 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, he has also worn the uniforms of the Tigers, Cubs, and Reds, accumulating more than 1,700 hits and 250 home runs.
In San Diego, the role will be different from the one he had for most of his career, where he surpassed 550 plate appearances in 10 seasons. However, the Padres are confident that his experience and power will add depth to a team with postseason aspirations.
