Padres Designate Nick Castellanos After 39 Games

The San Diego Padres designated veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos for assignment on Wednesday, ending his brief tenure with the team after just 39 games. The move came one day after Castellanos returned to Philadelphia, where he played for four seasons, and received a video tribute from Phillies fans.

Castellanos, 34, signed a one-year deal with the Padres in February after being released by the Phillies, who still owed him $20 million on the final season of a five-year, $100 million contract. The Padres assumed only the league-minimum salary for his services. His performance in San Diego, however, did not meet expectations. He batted .191 with a .560 on-base plus slugging percentage, four home runs, and 20 runs batted in during his limited action.

The decision to designate Castellanos for assignment followed his emotional return to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, where he spoke candidly about his departure from Philadelphia. He suggested a lack of communication from the Phillies front office contributed to his exit. "My phone was on," Castellanos said. "All they needed was a conversation like, 'This is going to be your role.' Apparently, they thought it was just best for the...