Padres designate Nick Castellanos for assignment after hitting .191 with team following Phillies release

Nick Castellanos’ MLB career was on thin ice after the outfielder was released by the Philadelphia Phillies in February. But the San Diego Padres decided to give the veteran one more chance, signing Castellanos to a one-year deal shortly after he hit the market.

That chance didn’t last long, however, as Castellanos was designated for assignment by the team Wednesday.

Castellanos, 34, struggled in limited time with the Padres this season, hitting just .191/.221/.339 in 122 plate appearances. He posted a 57 OPS+ with the team, his worst offensive performance since his rookie season, which comprised just 18 plate appearances.

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With the move, Castellanos’ MLB career could be over. Castellanos was already in a tough spot after his time with the Phillies ended in February. Despite clubbing 27 home runs last season, Castellanos fell out of favor with the Phillies due to his defense and some behind-the-scenes issues.

Following his Phillies release, Castellanos spoke publicly about those issues, saying he was benched in 2024 after bringing a beer into the dugout and berating then-manager Rob Thomson. The benching ended a streak of 236 consecutive games played by Castellanos.

Castellanos’ blow-up came after he was removed from a game in favor of a defensive replacement. That occurred multiple times with the Phillies last season, leading to Castellanos admitting the lack of playing time was wearing on him.

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When the team decided to sign free-agent outfielder Adolis Garcia in the offseason, it essentially spelled the end of Castellanos’ time in Philadelphia. The team reportedly looked to deal the outfielder, but eventually released him after failing to find a deal ahead of spring training.

After being discarded by two MLB teams in the span of a few months, Castellanos could have trouble hooking on with another team this season. The way his Phillies tenure ended, combined with his rough slash line with the Padres, could scare teams off, especially considering Castellanos doesn’t bring strong defensive value.