From 2014 to 2025, Nick Castellanos started all but 29 of the 1,677 games he appeared in for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Then, during his 39-game stint with the San Diego Padres in 2026, Castellanos stepped up to pinch-hit eight times—more such appearances than he had made in the previous seven seasons combined. In those plate appearances, he went 0-for-8 with five strikeouts.
If those numbers don’t already suggest Castellanos had trouble adapting to a new role in 2026, Padres manager Craig Stammen confirmed it on Wednesday after the 34-year-old veteran was designated for assignment.
“I think that was definitely something that was tough for him,” Stammen said of Castellanos’ adjustment. “It was tough for him to transition from playing every single day to playing two days, then two days off. … It was a difficult transition for him, and something that he probably didn’t really love in the end.”
Castellanos was both an All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner in 2023, when he hit 29 home runs for the Phillies. Since then, his production has steadily declined.
After posting a .250/.294/.400 slash line in 147 games last year, the Phillies released him with one year and $20 million remaining on his contract.
Philadelphia boasts a deep, veteran roster and World Series aspirations. Beyond his raw numbers, Castellanos’ fit on a team that already had slugger Kyle Schwarber locked in as designated hitter was always questionable.
It likely didn’t help that Castellanos once brought beer into the dugout after being benched by then-manager Rob Thomson. Stammen, however, apparently had no off-field issues with him.
In theory, Castellanos seemed a better fit on the Padres’ roster—if he could embrace a part-time role. In the end, he couldn’t justify even the major league minimum salary, slashing .191/.221/.339 across 115 at-bats.
“Nick’s such a pro,” Stammen said. “I’ve really enjoyed having him here in San Diego. We had conversations with him when we signed him that he was going to earn his playing time, and it was probably going to be a different role for him. It wasn’t going to be an everyday role that he was accustomed to for the last 12-15 years, his entire life playing baseball.”
He added: “For him personally, I know he’s got a lot going on with his family and wanting to be around his kids a lot. Maybe this is an opportunity for that. But maybe an opportunity for him to go somewhere else and find a place where he could play every day.”
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