The Nick Castellanos experiment in San Diego appears to have come to an end, as the Padres designated the veteran outfielder for assignment on Wednesday.
Utility man Samad Taylor was selected to the Major League roster from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.
Castellanos, 34, came to the Padres on a one-year deal in February after he was released by the Phillies ahead of the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract that began in 2022. The two-time All-Star hit .191 with a .560 OPS, four home runs and 20 RBIs in 39 games for the Padres, seeing time at both outfield corners, first base and designated hitter.
The news comes with the Padres in the middle of a three-game series in Philadelphia, where Castellanos hit 82 homers with a .732 OPS over four years with Phillies, including playing a key role in their run to the 2022 NL pennant.
Taylor, 27, has played 38 MLB games spread across 2023-25 with the Royals and Mariners, and he is hitting .319 with a .906 OPS in 51 games with El Paso.