Padres, Nick Castellanos Agree To Contract – MLB Trade Rumors

Lead: The San Diego Padres and veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos have reached a Major League agreement, according to reporting by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The one-year deal pays Castellanos the 2026 MLB minimum of $780,000 and is contingent on a completed physical; the Padres have an open 40-man roster slot so no immediate corresponding move is required. Castellanos, represented by Mato Sports Management, joins a Padres roster that recently added Miguel Andújar and is seeking right-handed hitting depth. The signing gives Castellanos an opportunity to reset his career after a troubled finish in Philadelphia.

Key Takeaways

• The contract is a one-year Major League deal for $780,000, the MLB minimum salary for 2026.
• San Diego has an available 40-man roster spot, so the signing requires only Castellanos passing a physical to be official.
• The Padres signed Miguel Andújar to a one-year, $4 million guarantee days earlier; both moves add right-handed bench/DH options.
• Castellanos’ 2022–25 Philadelphia run produced 0.8 fWAR, a 100 wRC+ across four seasons, .260/.306/.426 slash and 82 home runs in 2,477 plate appearances.
• The Padres’ $780K salary reduces the Phillies’ remaining 2026 obligation from roughly $20.00 million to $19.22 million on Castellanos’ five-year, $100 million 2021–22 contract.
• Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports Castellanos will be considered in the first-base mix despite never having played that position professionally.
• Gavin Sheets is viewed as San Diego’s leading first-base option; Ramon Laureano is expected to take most left-field reps and Fernando Tatis Jr. is established in right field.

Background

Nick Castellanos, entering his age-34 season, signed a five-year, $100 million contract with Philadelphia in the 2021–22 offseason. Over four seasons with the Phillies he produced modest offensive results but struggled defensively in right field and at corner positions, contributing to a strained relationship with the organization. Philadelphia publicly explored trade options for months and ultimately released Castellanos shortly before this signing, leaving the Phillies responsible for most of the remaining 2026 payroll obligation.

The Padres, meanwhile, have been reshaping their roster to add left-handed lineup balance and bench depth after prior seasons marked by frequent managerial changes and clubhouse disruptions. San Diego’s recent moves—most notably a one-year, $4 million guarantee to Miguel Andújar—signal a willingness to mix veterans into a roster built around younger core players. With starters largely set in the outfield and a need for right-handed hitting depth, the organization viewed low-cost veteran signings as low-risk additions.

Main Event

According to reporting attributed to Jon Heyman, the Padres finalized terms that pay Castellanos the MLB minimum of $780,000 for 2026, pending a physical. The team did not need to clear a roster spot to make the move because an open slot already exists on its 40-man roster. Castellanos is represented by Mato Sports Management, which handled the contract negotiations that led to this one-year deal.

San Diego’s plan appears to slot Castellanos as a right-handed bat for DH and bench roles, with a possibility of first-base work. Dennis Lin (The Athletic) specifically listed Castellanos among players who could be in the first-base mix—notable because Castellanos has not played first base in his professional career. The club also sees Gavin Sheets as the primary left-handed-first-base option, leaving Castellanos as a platoon or rotational piece.

With Ramon Laureano projected to take most of the left-field duties and Fernando Tatis Jr. entrenched in right field, Castellanos’ everyday opportunities in the outfield look limited. Miguel Andújar is expected to serve primarily as a DH, adding internal competition for playing time. The signing followed earlier trade discussions between Philadelphia and San Diego, and reports indicate the Padres were willing to wait for Castellanos to be released rather than surrender assets in a trade.

Analysis & Implications

The immediate implication is roster flexibility for the Padres: a low-cost veteran with middle-of-the-order pop potential who can be slotted as a bat-first option. At $780,000, the financial risk is minimal for San Diego, while Philadelphia absorbs the bulk of the original contract’s remaining value. That dynamic made the signing feasible without a trade.

Defensively, Castellanos’ history is a concern. Over his Phillies tenure he posted subpar marks in right field and at corners; moving him to first base is a pragmatic attempt to limit defensive exposure. First base would also lengthen Castellanos’ potential career runway if he accepts a part-time role. But the transition is unproven—Castellanos has not played first professionally—so defensive limitations remain a material risk to his playing time.

For Castellanos’ market value beyond 2026, a rebound season at age 34 would be critical. Producing league-average or better offense in a part-time capacity could restore interest for short-term deals; another down year could reduce him to a journeyman bench role. For the Padres, the addition tests their ability to extract value from low-cost veteran pickups while managing clubhouse chemistry after previous internal frictions.

Comparison & Data

The table shows Castellanos’ moderate offensive output in Philadelphia alongside the contract math: San Diego’s $780,000 commitment reduces the Phillies’ 2026 payroll hit by that same amount, leaving the majority of the five-year deal on Philadelphia’s books. From a performance standpoint, Castellanos provided league-average offense across his four seasons in Philly but did not produce value commensurate with the contract’s total cost.

Reactions & Quotes

Padres reporters have framed the signing as a low-cost addition of a veteran right-handed bat to the roster.

Dennis Lin / The Athletic (report)

Jon Heyman reported the $780,000 Major League deal and noted the signing hinges on a physical and the open 40-man slot.

Jon Heyman / New York Post (report)

Coverage of Castellanos’ exit from Philadelphia stressed clubhouse frictions late in his Phillies tenure and noted his public apology after the June 16 dugout incident.

Matt Gelb / The Athletic (report)

Unconfirmed

• Whether Castellanos can handle first base at a league-average level is unproven and remains to be demonstrated in camp or early-season action.
• Exact playing-time splits and a definitive role (primary DH vs. platoon first-base option) have not been announced by the Padres front office.
• Details and offers from the reported trade discussions between Philadelphia and San Diego have not been publicly released; the precise negotiation timeline and proposals remain unclear.
• How the clubhouse will assimilate Castellanos given his recent Phillies controversy is uncertain and will depend on early interactions and team dynamics in spring training.

Bottom Line

This is a low-cost, low-risk move for the Padres that addresses a stated need for right-handed hitting depth. For Castellanos, the signing is a chance to reestablish value on a contender and to adapt to a likely reduced, more flexible role—potentially at first base or as a platoon/DH option. The financials favor San Diego: minimal outlay with potential upside if Castellanos rediscovers form.

Philadelphia absorbs the larger payroll consequence of the original contract, and the decision to release Castellanos rather than trade him reflects the club’s limited leverage and desire to move on. Observers should watch spring training for immediate signals about Castellanos’ defensive readiness at first base and how quickly he integrates into the Padres’ lineup and clubhouse.

Sources

• MLB Trade Rumors — sports news site (original report summarized).
• New York Post / Jon Heyman — media reporting (Jon Heyman’s coverage of the signing).
• The Athletic / Dennis Lin & Matt Gelb — sports journalism (analysis and reporting on roster fit and clubhouse context).