Nick Castellanos’ latest opportunity in the majors is already over.
The San Diego Padres designated the veteran outfielder for assignment Wednesday after a disappointing 39-game stint. To replace him on the roster, the club selected the contract of versatile infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor from Triple-A El Paso.
Castellanos, 34, joined San Diego on a one-year, league-minimum deal after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2026 season. The signing was viewed as a low-risk gamble on a former All-Star looking to revive his career, but the production never arrived.
In 39 games with the Padres, Castellanos hit just .191 with a .560 OPS and four home runs, making him expendable as San Diego continues its push for a playoff spot.
The move comes just a day after Castellanos publicly reflected on his messy departure from Philadelphia, claiming he never received a direct conversation about his role before being released.
“My phone was on,” Castellanos said. “All they needed was a conversation like, ‘This is going to be your role.’ Apparently, they thought it was just best for the organization that my personality wasn’t in the clubhouse.”
While Castellanos struggled, he was hardly alone.
The Padres’ offense has been among the worst in baseball this season, entering June with a .218 team batting average, a .656 OPS, and only 229 runs scored.
Even stars like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have struggled to consistently produce, while the club recently endured an 0-for-33 skid with runners in scoring position. They’ve also lost seven of their last eight games.
Despite those offensive woes, San Diego remains in contention at 32-27 thanks to dominant starting pitching and a shutdown bullpen.
Unexpected contributors such as Gavin Sheets and Ty France have also helped keep the lineup afloat.
For a player who once signed a five-year, $100 million contract and was considered one of baseball’s premier power hitters, the latest setback marks another difficult chapter in a rapidly changing career.
