Nick Castellanos had initially planned to return to the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2026 season to complete the final year of his contract, but the organization ultimately had different plans, and his departure became very public.
Shortly after, he signed with the San Diego Padres, who were eager to add the veteran slugger. For the first time since leaving Philadelphia, Castellanos faced his former team and spoke openly about how events unfolded, saying he was prepared to report back but was told not to.
“Yeah, I told them, like, ‘Hey, I’m coming,’ and I was told not to go,” he said. “Well, you know, I’m an employee. So if I’m an employee, I’m going. Then make me not an employee, and then I won’t go. That’s kind of like the way that it ended up.”
In his first matchup against the Phillies, Castellanos started but went hitless in four at-bats. While his performance at the plate was quiet, the game marked an emotional reset against his former club.
He had been under contract with Philadelphia for another year on his five-year, $100 million deal when the split occurred. His time with the team also drew media scrutiny, including reports that questioned his professionalism during the 2025 season.
Despite the outside noise, the Padres were willing to move forward with him. Castellanos acknowledged frustration with how things ended but said he isn’t holding onto resentment.
“What am I going to sit here and start thinking about a bunch of stuff and be playing judge and jury?” he said. “They handled it the way that they handled it and obviously it led to just me being in a tough spot at the end, not really knowing what was up.”
Now in San Diego, he’s focused on moving forward, even as he adjusts to inconsistent playing time and a slow start offensively. He is hitting .183 with four home runs, 19 RBIs, and a .556 OPS, while continuing to work on his swing and stay prepared for opportunities.
Even though his Phillies tenure ended on a complicated note, Castellanos did experience significant success in Philadelphia, including a World Series appearance. He now hopes to bring that same impact to San Diego as the Padres pursue a championship.
