Report: Nick Castellanos to sign with Padres

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Less than 48 hours after his release, Nick Castellanos has found a new home.

He has reportedly agreed to a deal with the San Diego Padres, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. San Diego will pay Castellanos the prorated league minimum salary of $780,000. The Phillies owe him $20 million for the final year of his five-year, $100 million contract, minus the prorated league minimum salary he is making in San Diego.

Castellanos will play first base and outfield, according to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin. He’ll also spend some time as the DH. Castellanos’ time in the outfield will likely come in left. Right field is occupied by Fernando Tatis Jr. He’ll play for rookie manager Craig Stammen, who spent 13 years in the majors as a reliever. New Padres hitting coach Steven Souza Jr. played outfield in the majors for eight seasons.

San Diego, with little money to spend and in need of some right-handed power and a first baseman, was a rumored fit for the Padres. He’ll look to rebound after posting a .694 OPS in 589 plate appearances.

In an early December interview on MLB Network, Castellanos expressed interest in playing first base for the first time in his career. “It was brought up to me and honestly, it’s something that I really welcome,” he said.

The Phillies tried for months to find a trade parter for Castellanos. The relationship ran its course. He was benched last June for bringing a beer into the dugout during a game. Phillies teammates, according to a report from The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, resented him for his attitude, even before the infamous Miami incident. He was one of the worst everyday players in baseball in 2025.

Castellanos will look to bounce back on what should be a competitive Padres team.