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The Nick Castellanos experiment in San Diego is over.
The Padres announced June 3 that they designated the two-time All-Star for assignment, ending his tenure in San Diego less than three months into the 2026 season. He was slashing .191/.221/.339 in 39 games, primarily in a corner outfield/designated hitter role.
MORE: Released Phillies All-Star says he was benched after bringing beer into dugout
Infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to take the roster spot of Castellanos. The Padres, who are 32-27 after three consecutive losses, are coincidentally playing in Philadelphia on June 3.
The Phillies released Castellanos on Feb. 12 with $20 million left in the final season of his contract. The Padres were on the hook for the major league minimum — $780,000 — of his salary this season.
In the end, Castellanos couldn’t even justify that meager expense in the eyes of the Padres, who are six games out of first place and fading in the National League West.
MORE: Philadelphia Phillies star likely expecting release or trade during MLB offseason
Castellanos is only three games removed from his final National League All-Star game appearance with Philadelphia. He lingered only three days in free agency before latching on with the Padres in spring training. But there were signs of trouble out of the gate.
In five March games, Castellanos batted .167 (2 for 12). By the end of April, he was hitting .164. A former Silver Slugger Award winner, Castellanos didn’t hit his first home run of the 2026 season until April 29.
Castellanos’ modest improvement at the plate in May — .217/.222/.400, with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 20 games — was not enough to save his job.
Taylor, 27, will take Castellanos’ place on the bench for now. Veteran outfielder Ramon Laureano and catcher Luis Campusano, another right-handed hitter, are both on the injured list. So is veteran infielder Jake Cronenworth, a left-handed hitter.
It’s mildly surprising the Padres did not wait for one of the three injured regulars to return before pulling the plug on Castellanos. Instead, they did so at a critical junction in the season — amid a big series with a good Phillies team, where Castellanos can say goodbye to friends in two clubhouses.
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The Padres announced June 3 that they designated the two-time All-Star for assignment, ending his tenure in San Diego less than three months into the 2026 season. He was slashing .191/.221/.339 in 39 games, primarily in a corner outfield/designated hitter role.
MORE: Released Phillies All-Star says he was benched after bringing beer into dugout
Infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to take the roster spot of Castellanos. The Padres, who are 32-27 after three consecutive losses, are coincidentally playing in Philadelphia on June 3.
The Phillies released Castellanos on Feb. 12 with $20 million left in the final season of his contract. The Padres were on the hook for the major league minimum — $780,000 — of his salary this season.
In the end, Castellanos couldn’t even justify that meager expense in the eyes of the Padres, who are six games out of first place and fading in the National League West.
MORE: Philadelphia Phillies star likely expecting release or trade during MLB offseason
Castellanos is only three games removed from his final National League All-Star game appearance with Philadelphia. He lingered only three days in free agency before latching on with the Padres in spring training. But there were signs of trouble out of the gate.
In five March games, Castellanos batted .167 (2 for 12). By the end of April, he was hitting .164. A former Silver Slugger Award winner, Castellanos didn’t hit his first home run of the 2026 season until April 29.
Castellanos’ modest improvement at the plate in May — .217/.222/.400, with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 20 games — was not enough to save his job.
Taylor, 27, will take Castellanos’ place on the bench for now. Veteran outfielder Ramon Laureano and catcher Luis Campusano, another right-handed hitter, are both on the injured list. So is veteran infielder Jake Cronenworth, a left-handed hitter.
It’s mildly surprising the Padres did not wait for one of the three injured regulars to return before pulling the plug on Castellanos. Instead, they did so at a critical junction in the season — amid a big series with a good Phillies team, where Castellanos can say goodbye to friends in two clubhouses.
Continue reading...
