Nick Castellanos Is the Padres’ Answer at DH

Earlier today, the Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos, per a club announcement. Castellanos is now a free agent who can sign for the league minimum.

Castellanos signed a five-year, $100 million contract in 2022 after an all-star season with the Reds, where he slashed .309/.362/.576. He never replicated his success from Cincinnati, but remained solid for Philadelphia, hitting .260 and averaging 20 homers in four seasons.

The weakest point in his game is his defense. While he has notably been a poor defender, last was a big step back, posting -12 outs above average (OAA) and -11 defensive runs saved (DRS).

Tensions with Phillies manager Rob Thomson made this release not a surprise. After being pulled from a game in Miami, there was disagreement in the dugout and Castellanos brought a beer into the dugout. Castellanos addressed the incident on Instagram, admitting fault.

Nick Castellanos addressed the Miami incident in a recent Instagram post, where he admitted to bringing a beer in the dugout.

"I love this game, I love being a teammate, and I'm addicted to winning. I will learn from this."

(Via: Nick Castellanos/IG) pic.twitter.com/Uv3rH3RPf5
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 12, 2026

Despite his recent dip in play and dugout concerns, he would slot perfectly in the Padres lineup. Let’s examine why he would be a fit.

Extreme Cost-Effectiveness

What makes Castellanos so intriguing is how cost-effective he will be. The Phillies will be eating the remaining $20 million on his salary, meaning any team that signs him now will only have to pay him the league minimum ($780,000). Given the restrictions of payroll, he becomes almost a no-brainer to add.

Adds Right-Handed Power

Padres fans have been pounding the table for A.J. Preller to sign one more bat, preferably one that is right-handed and provides power. It seemed like the team was out of options after Eugenio Suarez and Marcel Ozuna each signed one-year deals. However, this is where Castellanos can step in.

The Padres ranked 23rd in slugging last season, and despite having a down year, Castellanos would have ranked fourth in home runs (17), second in RBI (72), and fifth in doubles (27). These numbers give a clear indication that he can make an immediate impact and lengthen the lineup.

An important metric for Castellanos is his launch angle sweet-spot percentage, ranking in the 88th percentile. This means he consistently makes ideal contact, resulting in high batting averages on balls in play.

Lineup Flexibility

Castellanos has reportedly been taking ground balls at first base this offseason and has expressed a willingness in learning the position to find a new role. If he were to take up the position, ideally, he could rotate between first base and DH with Gavin Sheets, occasionally playing the outfield.

Additionally, new manager Craig Stammen confirmed that the team will use a “revolving door” at DH, prioritizing player health over the course of the season. While star players like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill will rotate through the position, Castellanos could fill in very well as a complementary bat within that rotation.

Final Thoughts

Castellanos checks almost every box the Padres need. The fact that he can be picked up at such a discount makes all the difference, and he fills the voids in the lineup.

Yes, he has regressed over the last couple of seasons, but he remains a proven run producer capable of hitting behind Tatis, Machado, and Merrill.

A move to San Diego’s veteran-heavy clubhouse. where he won’t be demanded as much, could be the fresh start he needs after his fallout in Philadelphia.