The San Diego Padres thought they were loading up for a deep October run. Instead, they’ve reportedly been hit with a shockwave that insiders say has left the clubhouse reeling. On Friday, the Padres officially cut ties with veteran slugger Nick Castellanos—designating him for assignment before ultimately releasing him. But behind closed doors, the move has reportedly sparked a wave of frustration and confusion among the players.
Machado’s Raw Reaction Stuns Teammates
According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, star third baseman Manny Machado was visibly shaken when he learned of the decision. “He looked like someone had just punched him in the gut,” one unnamed teammate allegedly told our team. Speaking publicly for the first time since the DFA, Machado admitted the news left the entire roster devastated. “Yeah it was tough—I mean, obviously he was a big part of our team,” Machado reportedly said, via local reporter Marty Caswell. “The news got everybody by surprise. I don’t really try to put myself in a GM’s shoes and know why they’re doing the decisions. Obviously we just care about Nick and what he meant to us in the clubhouse. We were kind of devastated by it.”
What Went Wrong?
Castellanos, 34, arrived in San Diego this season with a resume that screams “proven bat.” A two-time All-Star with a history of clutch hits, he was supposed to give the Padres lineup a right-handed jolt. Instead, over 39 games, the numbers fell off a cliff: a paltry .191 average, a .221 on-base percentage, and just .339 slugging. There were whispers of mechanical issues, some sources say, and rumblings that Castellanos never fully adjusted to the pitcher-friendly conditions in Petco Park. Still, the abruptness of the DFA has raised eyebrows around the league.
Could This Backfire on the Front Office?
Padres fans are buzzing with one big question: Did general manager A.J. Preller pull the trigger too fast? With the team limping into Friday night’s showdown against the New York Mets—owners of a brutal 1-9 record over their last ten games—some insiders worry that cutting Castellanos could deepen the clubhouse rift. “Chemistry is everything in a stretch like this,” one veteran scout told us. “If the guys feel like management doesn’t have their backs, that’s a cancer that takes more than a roster move to cure.” For now, San Diego sits at 32-29, third in the NL West, and entering a critical home series. Meanwhile, Castellanos is expected to draw interest from multiple teams desperate for a veteran right-handed bat—and perhaps, a chance to make the Padres regret their decision.
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