Nick Castellanos has put himself in a box where he needs to prove himself to Padres fans in more ways than one.
Perhaps a surprise signing by AJ Preller this winter, Castellanos has moved on from an ugly and very public four-year relationship with the Philadelphia Phillies. He is not afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve, nor share what is on his mind regardless of how happy or angry he is feeling.
It is an approach that can rally players in a clubhouse, but it can also have an adverse affect when things are not going well. And for Castellanos, he has struggled a bit, lowering his OPS+ in each of the last three seasons. This has all the makings for a disaster if Castellanos does not play consistently, and if he struggles at the plate.
What can he do to dispel the notion that he might be a problem with his new team? Obviously, we want to see him producing. But we also want to see him be a positive leader for a team that can win a lot of games in 2026. We don't need anyone rocking the boat.
Nick Castellanos needs to be a positive leader for Padres in next chapter of his career
He's already showing that he can be a solid asset on defense, which is something he's moved away from in the last few seasons. If he can play well at first base or in the corner outfield, expect for him to get more playing time.
That added time should translate into more offensive production. In his first three spring training games with San Diego, he has three RBIs, a double, and two walks. That kind of contribution will turn into more reps for Castellanos.
Castellanos delivers! pic.twitter.com/dljO5MdEow
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 24, 2026
While actual performance is vital, Castellanos' history of disrupting a clubhouse is just as important to focus on. Manny Machado is another vocal leader, though he tends to back up his organization or his teammates. If things get ugly, we need to stay far away from Machado and Castellanos having separate attitudes towards the media.
Players are bought in on Machado's leadership. Castellanos can either help the veteran star in that area — which he is more than capable of doing — or he can negatively impact the Padres if he is upset towards...literally anything.
We believe that Castellanos can be a value to San Diego. He has played in two NLCS and one World Series. That experience, plus having a knack for collecting 40-plus extra-base hits in any given season, makes us want to embrace Castellanos. He just cannot be a distraction.