Castellanos Embraces Possible Move to 1B in 'Fresh Start' with Padres

Veteran slugger looks to rebound in San Diego after messy exit from Philadelphia

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Nick Castellanos, the veteran slugger who recently signed with the San Diego Padres, is embracing the possibility of playing first base as part of a 'fresh start' with his new team. Castellanos, who had a messy exit from the Philadelphia Phillies, is eager to contribute to the Padres' quest for their first World Series championship.

Why it matters

Castellanos' move to the Padres represents an opportunity for the 31-year-old to revive his career after a tumultuous end to his time in Philadelphia. The Padres are hoping Castellanos can provide a much-needed offensive boost as they look to contend for a championship.

The details

Castellanos was released by the Phillies last week, with reports of friction in the team's clubhouse and an incident last June where he briefly brought a beer into the dugout to express his frustration. The Padres, who had been engaged in trade talks with Philadelphia for Castellanos, quickly signed him to a deal, with the team only paying the league minimum of $780,000. Castellanos is expected to see playing time at first base, DH, and potentially the outfield corners, as the Padres look to get his bat in the lineup.

  • Castellanos signed with the Padres on February 12, 2026.
  • Castellanos was released by the Phillies on February 9, 2026.

The players

Nick Castellanos

A veteran slugger who has played primarily in the outfield for the last eight seasons, but is now embracing a possible move to first base as part of a 'fresh start' with the San Diego Padres.

A.J. Preller

The general manager of the San Diego Padres, who spent the offseason engaged in trade talks with the Phillies for Castellanos before ultimately signing him to a deal.

Manny Machado

The star third baseman for the San Diego Padres, who is excited to be reunited with his longtime friend and former youth teammate Castellanos.

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What they’re saying

“I definitely can embrace that. Fresh start, new group. San Diego is a very talented team, there's a lot of veterans here. Also, the city of San Diego has never won a World Series. However I can contribute to that and lift this team up to accomplish that goal, I am more than willing.”

— Nick Castellanos (mlb.com)

“When I said I will learn from this, it's, I guess, just letting my emotions get the best of me in a moment. Possibly, if I see things that frustrate me, that I don't believe are conducive to winning, speaking up when I see it, instead of letting things pile up.”

— Nick Castellanos (mlb.com)

“We're all going to look at him as a new human being. That was the Phillies, and we're the San Diego Padres.”

— Jackson Merrill, Center Fielder (mlb.com)

“He gets a fresh start here, and a fresh opportunity.”

— A.J. Preller, General Manager (mlb.com)

“We go way back -- born and raised in Miami, played together since we were little kids. Couldn't ask for a better teammate to come here and be a part of it. It all started in Miami, Florida, as kids, and now we're here living every kid's dream, playing in the big leagues at the highest level together.”

— Manny Machado (mlb.com)

What’s next

The Padres will closely monitor Castellanos' performance during Spring Training as he looks to earn a spot in the starting lineup, either at first base, DH, or in the outfield.

The takeaway

Castellanos' move to the Padres represents a chance for the veteran slugger to revive his career and contribute to a team with championship aspirations. If he can recapture the form that made him an All-Star in 2023, the Padres could have found a bargain that helps propel them to their first World Series title.