Nick Castellanos quickly lands with new team after Phillies release

The Philadelphia Phillies moved on from Nick Castellanos earlier this week, and the veteran outfielder did not take long to find a new team.

Castellanos agreed to a deal with the San Diego Padres on Saturday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The 33-year-old will be paid the MLB minimum by the Padres while earning the $20M the Phillies still owe him for the 2026 season.

Castellanos represents a value signing for San Diego, which is coming off a 90-win season. The Padres made the playoffs last year and lost to the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round. Castellanos is coming off a season in which he batted .250 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI.

Nick Castellanos and the Phillies were at odds

There had been tension brewing between Castellanos and the Phillies for several months. He butted heads with manager Rob Thomson and had reportedly become a problem in the clubhouse late last season.

It became clear that the relationship between Castellanos and his former team was doomed when the Phillies told the two-time All-Star not to report to spring training this week. Castellanos was then released on Thursday.

While Castellanos took a step back offensively in 2025, the Padres have not taken a financial risk by signing him. They can easily move on from him if they are unhappy with his production on the field or if he becomes a distraction.

Castellanos posted a .263/.311/.454 slash line with 52 homers and 67 doubles in his 1,330 plate appearances between 2023 and 2024. He has hit left-handed pitching well throughout his career, which likely appealed to the Padres.