Padres just handed the Reds a reunion opportunity they should immediately reject

Reds fans have fond memories of Nick Castellanos' time in Cincinnati, but a lot's changed since he left the organization following the 2021 season. Castellanos, who was signed by the San Diego Padres just before the start of the season, was designated for assignment by the Friars on Wednesday and is a free agent once again. The Cincinnati Reds should stay as far away as possible.

To call Castellanos a locker room cancer is pretty harsh, but he's definitely become a distraction of late. After a tumultuous end to his 2025 campaign that carried over into the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies dismissed the former All-Star during spring training. The Padres swooped in to pick him up, and shifted him into a hybrid role playing the outfield and first base.

Unfortunately, Castellaos crashed and burned with his new team. In 39 games with the Padres, he hit just .191/.221/.339 with four home runs, 20 RBI, and a 53 wRC+. The Friars felt as though they could no longer justify keeping him on the roster, and after selecting the contract of Samad Taylor from their Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, Castellanos was DFA'd.

Nick Castellanos had his best season with the Reds in 2021

Castellanos was the Reds' big-time signing during the 2019-20 offseason. He, along with Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama, and Wade Miley represented a free-agent splurge that Reds fans hadn't seen in quite some time. Altogether, those players cost Cincinnati's ownership close to $150 million.

Castellanos struggled during his first year in Cincinnati and opted into Year 2 of the four-year, $64 million deal he signed in 2020. He became an All-Star starter alongside Jesse Winker in 2021, and opted out of the final two years of his contract with the Reds. After a protacted offseason following intense CBA negotiations, Castellanos was able to sign a five-year, $100 million deal with the Phillies.

His four seasons in the City of Brotherly Love offered more downs than ups. Combined, he hit .260/.306/.426 with 82 homers, 326 RBI, and a 100 wRC+, but his stats (and playing time) really took a nose dive in 2025. Last season, he hit just .250/.294/.400 and became a part-time player during the second-half of the season.

Castellanos was a fan-favorite during his two years with the Reds, but between Eugenio Suárez, Nathaniel Lowe, Spencer Steer, and JJ Bleday, Cincinnati has enough power bats on the roster. A reunion with Castellanos can (and should) be quickly cast aside.

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