Padres Dump Nick Castellanos After 122 Plate Appearances as Phillies Owe $19.2 Million
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 3
Padres Dump Nick Castellanos After 122 Plate Appearances as Phillies Owe $19.2 Million
3 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 3
Summary
San Diego designated Nick Castellanos for assignment before Wednesday’s game in Philadelphia, cutting loose the 34-year-old after 59 games in a part-time role.
A .191 average, four homers and a .560 OPS in 122 plate appearances left Castellanos struggling to justify a spot on a Padres lineup that ranks near the bottom of MLB in OPS and runs.
Craig Stammen said the role change never fit Castellanos, who had gone from everyday play to sporadic starts, and the Padres replaced him with utility call-up Samad Taylor.
Philadelphia released Castellanos in February after failing to trade the final year of his five-year, $100 million deal, and the Phillies still owe $19.2 million of his $20 million salary this season.
Any team that claims him would pay only a prorated share of the $780,000 minimum, leaving his next move uncertain as he weighs another everyday opportunity.