San Diego Padres Nick Castellanos has been trying to dig himself out of a slow start to the 2026 season. He is hitting .164/.215/.279 with one home run and nine RBI over 62 at-bats. His statistical numbers do not offer much confidence that Castellanos can get out of this slump.
The Friar Faithful envisioned him as a lethal righty bat from the DH/1B position in the lineup. But that has not developed in the season’s first month. At 34, it may be time to question if Castellanos will ever be a serviceable
run-producer again.
The Padres’ next move should be to designate him for assignment (DFA), so he can catch on with another ballclub. It would allow the Friars to replace him with a better option on the roster.
Castellanos failing to adapt to bench role
Castellanos’ struggles at the plate have mirrored some of his teammates for the first month. He has failed to make consistent contact, as his strikeout rate is at 26.2%, the highest of his career. Castellanos has only five extra-base hits this season.
All the blame cannot be placed on him, as the Friars have not given Castellanos the playing time needed to find his stroke. Throughout his 14-year major career, the right-handed slugger has averaged 130 games a season. The lack of playing time has adversely affected his offensive production.
His glove does not merit more starts, and the Padres cannot wait for Castellanos to figure it out offensively. Unfortunately, walking back to the dugout after an at-bat has been the pattern all season.
What is next?
Such a roster move allows the front office to add a player who is more familiar with the bench role. Any candidate must be versatile to play multiple positions, but more importantly, have the ability to hit in the clutch. This void has been an issue for the last several seasons.
The Friars have other roster issues to settle, but as we get deeper into the season, a deal to upgrade the bench must happen. With the trade deadline looming, the front office may have to sacrifice versatility to add a proven bat to the bench.
Acquiring a seasoned veteran might be more valuable than versatility as we inch toward October.
The signing of Castellanos has not worked out for either side. The Padres expected more power, and he largely has failed to deliver.
The organization cannot wait much longer to revamp the bench.
