Padres sign Nick Castellanos after unceremonious departure from Phillies

Padres sign Nick Castellanos after unceremonious departure from Phillies

Nick Castellanos already has a new house.

Castellanos agreed to a deal with the Padres for the veteran minimum, pending a physical, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed this Saturday morning.

The Phillies, his home for four seasons, released Castellanos on Thursday with one year and $20 million remaining on his contract, which initially had a term of five years and $100 million.


Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos (8) hits an RBI single to advance the Philadelphia Phillies to first base. Bryce Harper (3) gives the Phillies the lead in the 10th inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The Yankees inquired about a potential trade prior to Castellanos’ release, but received mixed reviews, according to Heyman.

His departure was not without some heat.

The 33-year-old wasn’t shy about expressing his “disdain” for Phillies manager Rob Thomson and coach Kevin Long.

Moreover, he told his former teammates that he didn’t trust either of them because they never played in the Majors — and it wasn’t the first time he made that complaint.

In September, Castellanos explained that he only wants to hear from those who have professional experience.


Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a two-RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of game two of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Nick Castellanos of the Phillies hits a two-RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of game two of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 6, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

“The only opinions I really care about are (from) those who carried the stick,” Castellanos said during “On base with Mookie Betts.”

“The ones who put on the gloves and put on the cleats.”

The tension between the two sides is one of the biggest reasons why Castellanos’ time ended prematurely in Philadelphia.

Castellanos and Thomson often butted heads, including when Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout after being removed for a defensive replacement and reportedly shouted at his manager in front of coaches and teammates.

Last season, Castellanos had a down year, hitting .250 with a .694 OPS – a significant drop from his last All-Star season in 2023 when he hit .272 with a .788 OPS.

He joins a Padres team that lost to the Cubs in the wild-card round.

While he played right field for the Phillies, the plan for the Padres is to rotate between the outfield, first base and the design hitter, Heyman said.

The Padres have signed Fernando Tatis Jr. already an everyday right fielder.

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