Nick Castellanos Blasts Philadelphia Media After Release, Seeks Fresh Start with Padres

After four seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, outfielder/designated hitter Nick Castellanos was released while the club still owed him $20 million on the final year of his contract. The Phillies’ decision cleared a roster spot, and the San Diego Padres signed Castellanos to a league-minimum deal shortly thereafter.

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Castellanos entered Philadelphia on a five-year, $100 million contract that began in 2020. He earned an All-Star selection and helped the Phillies reach the 2022 World Series, but his on-field production fell below replacement level in his last two seasons, prompting the club to move on.

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During his four-year stint in Philadelphia, Castellanos posted a .260/.306/.426 slash line with a 100 OPS+ rating, yet his cumulative bWAR was below replacement level. In the 2026 season with San Diego, he has recorded a .146/.196/.208 line, zero home runs, five RBIs, three walks, and –1 Outs Above Average (OAA) over 16 games (51 plate appearances).

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Castellanos told the *San Diego Union-Tribune* that the Phillies instructed him not to discuss a dugout-beer incident, despite his desire for transparency. He said he “takes pride in being authentic” and felt the organization’s silence forced him to withhold information. He also characterized the Philadelphia press as “thriving off controversy” rather than pursuing truth.

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Philadelphia reporters portrayed Castellanos as a poor teammate and highlighted the alleged beer-in-the-dugout episode, framing the incident as evidence of character flaws. The coverage intensified after his release, emphasizing “controversial” aspects of his tenure.

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• “Because that [incident] happened seven months [before the article was published]. And the only reason why I didn’t tell the media the next day was because I was instructed by the organization not to. I wanted to, and I remember sitting in Rob [Thomson’s] office saying that I take pride in being authentic. I don’t want to lie, and I don’t want to hide. And it was from their instruction that they wanted it to be.” — Nick Castellanos, player

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• “But the media, just with other incidents I had … They all have jobs to do. But the information that I got was, they thrive off of controversy and they’d rather be controversial than truthful,” — Nick Castellanos

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• “One of the things that was hard for me was to just pretend like I didn’t absorb that.” — Nick Castellanos

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• “After Castellanos was released, the media went after his reputation, saying he wasn’t a good teammate and that he brought beer into the dugout during a game last season.” — *Heavy.com* reporting

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• “It wasn't all bad for the veteran in Philadelphia as he helped the Phillies reach the World Series in 2022, and he did make an All-Star appearance with them.” — *Sports Illustrated* reporting

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The sources do not include direct comments from Phillies management or the journalists cited, leaving the specifics of the beer incident and the organization’s internal directives unverified. No alternative accounts of the media’s motives are provided.

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Castellanos’ criticism highlights tensions between athletes and local press, especially when a high-profile contract ends poorly. Media narratives can shape public perception of a player’s character, influencing future contract negotiations and fan sentiment. The episode also coincides with the Phillies’s current 8-18 record, underscoring broader organizational challenges.

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Castellanos aims to reestablish his value with the Padres, hoping improved performance will shift the focus from past controversy. Meanwhile, the Phillies must address both on-field deficiencies and the reputational fallout from the episode as they attempt to climb out of the NL East basement.

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