Padres' deal for Nick Castellanos is good news amid $780,000 contract

The San Diego Padres have been adding a few nice veteran pieces this offseason, with Miguel Andujar being one of the more noteworthy.

While the Padres are seemingly trying to shed some money, with trade rumors surrounding Jake Cronenworth, Ramon Laureano, and Nick Pivetta, the Padres are still adding talent. Their recent addition of Nick Castellanos is proof that they're still adding.

But, how much are they paying Castellanos, who was just making $20 million? According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Padres are spending the veteran minimum of $780,000 on Castellanos. It's a great deal for the Padres, as it's as cheap as a flier can get.

Padres to spend vet minimum on Nick Castellanos

"The San Diego Padres take a flier on recently released OF Nick Castellanos, paying him the minimum of $780,000 salary, with the Phillies still responsible for $19.22 million of his salary in 2026," Nightengale reports.

This one-year deal for Castellanos is a very cheap one for the Padres. In fact, it cannot get any cheaper. Since the Philadelphia Phillies are spending $20 million on Castellanos, the Padres can sign him to a veteran minimum contract.

Castellanos isn't losing any money by taking this $780,000 contract with the Padres, as he's still earning the full $20 million from the final year of his $100 million, five-year deal he signed in 2022.

He's going to be 34 years old at the start of March, and while he's not been a valuable player recently, Castellanos is well worth taking a flier on, especially when it's this cheap.

More: Former Yankees, Reds, A's outfielder agrees to $4M deal with Padres

He had a -0.8 bWAR season for the Phillies in 2025, playing in 147 games, hitting 17 home runs, 27 doubles, and posting a .250 batting average with a .694 OPS.

His 88 OPS+ was the worst mark of his MLB career since his 11-game rookie season in 2013. He's hit 250 home runs in his career and has had some great postseason moments, especially during his Phillies tenure.

While Castellanos might not be worth the $20 million he's making this season, the Padres are only covering $780,000 of that total. The Padres are getting a veteran outfielder, who's going to move to first base and designated hitter for part of 2026, on a very cheap deal.

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