Nick Castellanos Reflects on His Departure from the Phillies

Back in Philadelphia, Nick Castellanos isn’t holding back about how things concluded with his former team. The seasoned outfielder for the Padres opened up on Tuesday ahead of the series opener at Citizens Bank Park, discussing his difficult departure from the Phillies last offseason.

“The phone was on,” Castellanos remarked. “All they needed was a conversation like, ‘This is going to be your role.’ Apparently, they thought it was better for the team if my personality wasn’t in the clubhouse.”

Released by the Phillies in February, Castellanos still had a year left on his five-year, $100 million contract that started before the 2022 season. In four seasons, the 33-year-old slugger hit 82 home runs and was selected to the 2023 National League All-Star Team. Yet, his exit from Philadelphia was anything but graceful.

There were tensions, too. Castellanos had a notable disagreement with then-manager Rob Thomson after bringing a beer into the dugout and confronting him following a defensive substitution. “Not everything anyone does is positive,” he said. “It’s not all negative. There were good moments and some not so good.” I guess that’s just part of the game.

Castellanos’s performance hadn’t made matters easier for himself either. After a lackluster 2025 season, where he posted a .250 batting average and .694 OPS, he found himself released. Entering Tuesday’s game, he was struggling even further with a .191 batting average and .560 OPS.

Still, even with the rough ending, Castellanos had fond memories of his time with the Phillies. “I had a good four years here,” he shared. “Whenever I meet Phillies fans away from the cameras and field, I receive nothing but love and positivity. I’m grateful. I spoke my mind and played every day, really wanting to win a ring.”

He reflected on his actions, admitting, “Did I do everything 100 percent right? Probably not. But I stayed true to my heart and how I felt at the moment. That’s what mattered to me.”