This week brought significant changes to the San Diego Padres’ lineup as they selected Nick Castellanos but released him just two days later.
Before the Padres’ 5-0 defeat against the New York Mets, Manny Machado spoke to the media about how disheartened the team was by Castellanos’ exit.
“The news caught everyone off guard,” Machado remarked. “It’s tough to put myself in the shoes of the General Manager and understand the reasoning behind that decision. We care a lot about Nick and what he brought to our clubhouse.”
Castellanos had been released by the Philadelphia Phillies during the offseason and soon signed with the Padres for a one-year deal valued at $780,000.
When the Padres picked him up, they faced a financial advantage since he was previously released, which left his cost at just $296,141 for them.
The timing of his release came after a sluggish start to the 2026 season, where his performance included a .560 OPS, four home runs, 20 RBIs, and 34 strikeouts.
His struggles at the plate seemed particularly pronounced against off-speed pitches and breaking balls, dropping his batting average significantly from previous years.
Last season, he had an average of .283 against non-speed pitches, but this year, that number plummeted to .063. Against curveballs, he dropped to .171 from a previous .220.
The Padres’ batting performance has struggled overall this season, positioning them among the least effective teams in many categories. Clearly, San Diego felt they had to make tough decisions to improve, even if it meant parting with popular players.
Machado reflected positively on Castellanos, acknowledging him as a favorite in the clubhouse.
“He was fantastic for us,” Machado stated. “He contributed some valuable at-bats. I don’t think those memories will fade.”
Although it has only been days since Castellanos was let go, Machado mentioned he hasn’t had a chance to reach out but intends to connect with him soon. “This is tough news to process. I want to give him some space to sort through things before I talk to him,” he said.
