San Diego Padres Sign Nick Castellanos To 1-Year Deal

Brandon Dutz
Padres sign Nick Castellanos to one year deal

The San Diego Padres have had a quiet offseason, but have made another move before Spring Training begins. San Diego is signing former Phillies Outfielder Nick Castellanos to a one-year deal on the league minimum, per multiple reports. After an ugly divorce in Philadelphia, Castellanos stays in the National League.

Padres Land Castellanos

The Padres caught a huge break and bolstered their lineup with the addition of Castellanos. Moving to Petco Park is bound to help his numbers a ton, especially as a pull hitter. He never enjoyed his time in Philadelphia, and he’s a player whose performance on the field is easily affected based on his environment. He won’t be expected to carry the load like he was with the Phillies, and will have easier demands in San Diego.

This was a no-brainer move for them. Getting Castellanos gives them a legit bat in the middle of the order, which is something they’ve lacked for years. Last year with the Phillies, he slashed .250/.294/.400/.694. Compared to years past, his numbers were definitely down, but I’d attribute that to his issues with Manager Rob Thomson and locker room problems.

Looking At the Lineup

With the addition of Castellanos, the Padres’ lineup is one of the best in the National League. The top of the lineup will be headlined by Fernando Tatis, Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill. Following them will be Xander Bogaerts, Ramón Laureano, Gavin Sheets, and Nick Castellanos. San Diego is in a great position heading into the season, and AJ Preller has done a nice job filling out his roster heading into the season.

Outside of the lineup, the Padres will have one of the best bullpens in all of baseball, headlined by Mason Miller, whom they acquired at the trade deadline last season. AJ Preller is known for making bold moves at the Trade Deadline, and he’s in a prime position to strike yet again. With the lineup looking great all around, Preller can set his sights on rebuilding the starting rotation. In the past, he’s always had to address multiple holes, but this year will be very different.