Nick Castellanos leaves the Phillies, lands with Padres on one-year deal
Nick Castellanos’ time with the Phillies ended abruptly this week, and the veteran outfielder already has a new landing spot. Two days after being released by Philadelphia, Castellanos agreed to a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres, a quick resolution that closes a turbulent chapter and reshapes both clubs’ early-season plans.
The move puts a spotlight on roster construction in the final weeks before Opening Day, with the Phillies absorbing a significant financial hit while clearing a lineup spot and the Padres adding a right-handed bat at minimal cost.
Phillies cut ties with Castellanos
Philadelphia released Castellanos on Feb. 12, 2026 (ET), with one season remaining on the five-year, $100 million contract he signed ahead of the 2022 season. The final year carries a $20 million salary, and the decision means the Phillies remain responsible for essentially all of that amount, reduced only by whatever portion of the league minimum Castellanos earns from his new club.
On the field, Castellanos’ 2025 line finished at .250 with 17 home runs and 72 RBIs in 147 games. The production was serviceable, but not enough to offset broader concerns that had been building around role, fit, and defense in right field.
What drove the split in Philadelphia
The separation was not framed as a baseball-only decision. Over the past season, Castellanos’ relationship with the Phillies’ staff deteriorated publicly, with frustration spilling into headlines and clubhouse chatter. The most memorable episode came in mid-June, when he was benched following a dugout incident after being removed for a defensive substitution.
Philadelphia’s front office had already been working toward a reshaped outfield, and the move to release him suggests the organization concluded that a clean break—despite the financial cost—was preferable to carrying a strained dynamic into spring training.
Padres add a low-risk bat
San Diego is bringing Castellanos aboard on a one-year contract at the league minimum, reported at $780,000 for 2026, pending a standard physical. For the Padres, that’s a classic upside play: a proven big-league hitter at a fraction of market value, with Philadelphia paying the bulk of the salary.
The expected usage is flexible. Castellanos can still handle corner-outfield duty, and he may also see time at designated hitter and occasional first base, depending on matchups and roster health. The appeal is less about turning back the clock to peak seasons and more about deepening the lineup while keeping payroll commitments light.
What it means for the Phillies’ lineup
The Phillies’ decision makes their right-field plan clearer. After adding Adolis García on a one-year, $10 million deal earlier this offseason, Philadelphia now has a straightforward path to install García as the primary right fielder without juggling playing time or defensive late-inning replacements tied to Castellanos.
It also reflects a broader roster philosophy shift: the club appears willing to pay for past commitments while optimizing for defense, athleticism, and lineup balance in 2026. That’s a hard line, but it’s consistent with a contender trying to squeeze margins over a long season.
Timeline and what to watch next
Castellanos’ next immediate step is getting into game shape with his new club as camps ramp up. At 33, he doesn’t need a long runway to be ready, but timing matters—especially for a hitter changing environments and trying to establish a role quickly.
For Philadelphia, the focus turns to how the outfield and designated hitter mix settles. The club has removed a high-usage bat from last season’s lineup, so production now has to come from a cleaner defensive alignment, improved depth, and better leverage of matchups.
The most anticipated subplot is the first Phillies–Padres series at Citizens Bank Park, when Castellanos returns to Philadelphia in a different uniform. In MLB, reunions like that often get framed emotionally, but the real stakes are practical: whether San Diego can extract value from a veteran bat, and whether the Phillies’ expensive reset makes them better in the standings.
