This article gives a short, verifiable answer to whether Nick Castellanos left the Philadelphia Phillies, then walks through the public records, contract implications, and practical roster consequences. It is written for fans, fantasy managers, and readers who track transaction news and want clear next steps for verification. The short takeaway: the official transaction pages and contract summaries show that Castellanos was released by the Phillies on February 12, 2026 and signed with the San Diego Padres on February 17, 2026. The piece explains what those entries mean in practice and where to check for updates.

Official MLB transaction logs show the release and the subsequent signing on two separate, date-stamped entries.

Spotrac lists Castellanos s five-year, $100 million deal from 2022 and the $20 million 2026 salary line used in summaries.

A released player is no longer a trade asset for his former team until and unless a new transaction occurs.

Short answer: Is Nick Castellanos leaving the Phillies?

One-sentence answer

Yes, Castellanos is no longer with the Philadelphia Phillies; the club released him on February 12, 2026, and he signed with another team five days later.

Quick verification steps to confirm a transaction on league pages

MLB.com transactions
MLB Trade Rumors report
ESPN player transactions

Check transaction dates first

That release entry appears in league reporting and trade coverage, and the subsequent signing is recorded in MLB transaction listings as a new-team entry.

Quick summary of the two key transactions

The Phillies released Nick Castellanos on February 12, 2026, an action reported by league-focused coverage and transaction pages for that date, which formally ended his time in Philadelphia MLB.com transaction log.

Five days later, MLB transaction records show Castellanos as signed by the San Diego Padres on February 17, 2026, confirming his departure from the Phillies into a new roster context MLB.com transaction log.

Official timeline: transactions and dates you can verify

Release entry on 2026-02-12

Start with the official transaction page for the date of the reported move. The February 12, 2026 transactions page lists the Phillies release entry that removed Castellanos from the club s roster and made him a free agent in league records MLB.com transaction log.

Padres signing entry on 2026-02-17

Search the February 17, 2026 transactions page to see the matching signing entry for his new club; that listing shows the Padres added Castellanos to their roster on that date MLB.com transaction log.

For context, trade-coverage outlets published the release report first, and analytic pieces in outlets such as The New York Times also discussed the split; the official league transaction pages provide the authoritative date stamps you can use to verify the sequence.

Practice roster-aware predictions on FundedPlays Challenges

Bookmark the MLB transaction pages for quick verification of any roster move, and refresh the date-stamped entries when you see trade chatter to confirm outcomes.

View FundedPlays Challenges

What the contract and salary records show

Overview of the 2022 deal

Castellanos originally signed a five-year, $100 million contract in 2022, which included a listed $20 million salary for the 2026 season according to publicly available contract summaries Spotrac contract page.

Those published contract figures remain a useful baseline for understanding how guaranteed money and remaining salary look on paper, though they are summaries rather than a full legal contract transcript.

What the 2026 salary line means after a release

When a team releases a player with guaranteed salary remaining, the original club typically retains responsibility for most of that pay, subject to any offset from a new contract at or near the league minimum; reporting around Castellanos s release indicated Philadelphia would carry the bulk of the 2026 obligation, minus any league-minimum offset MLB Trade Rumors report.

Readers should treat summary pages as helpful guides and consult official contract repositories or collective-bargaining documents for definitive accounting details, since offset calculations and formal charge processing follow league and union rules.

Reported trade exploration in the 2025-26 offseason

During the 2025-26 offseason, reporting showed the Phillies explored trade possibilities involving Castellanos, but those discussions did not produce an agreement before the club chose to release him MLB Trade Rumors report.

That pattern of exploration without a completed deal is common when teams cannot secure the return they want or prefer roster flexibility that a release can immediately provide.

Factors teams weigh when choosing release over trade

Close up of smartphone showing official MLB transactions page with clear transaction list and team logos highlighting giants phillies prediction in a clean Funded Plays dark minimalist layout

General reasons a club might release a veteran rather than trade him include an inability to find a partner willing to take on salary, the desire to clear a 40-man roster spot quickly, or a calculation that the market will not yield acceptable trade value.

In Castellanos s case, the public record shows exploration of trade options followed by the formal release action, which is the definitive, verifiable outcome rather than the prior rumor and reporting cycle.

What this means for the Phillies roster and near-term plans

Immediate roster vacancy and depth considerations

The release removed Castellanos from the Phillies roster and created an opening that the club can fill via internal options, minor-league promotions, or external signings.

Is Nick Castellanos leaving the Phillies?

Yes. The Phillies released Nick Castellanos on February 12, 2026, and MLB records show he signed with the San Diego Padres on February 17, 2026.

Because he was released, Castellanos was no longer a trade chip for Philadelphia heading into camp, and that materially changed the team s available options compared with the period when trade discussions were active.

Phillies followers should watch the official depth chart and team notes for how the club replaces corner outfield bat minutes rather than relying on rumor cycles about potential trades.

What it means for Castellanos and his new team

Padres signing details and likely role

MLB transaction records list Castellanos as signed by the San Diego Padres on February 17, 2026, to a one-year contract that was reported as a league-minimum deal, placing him on the Padres roster for Spring preparations MLB.com transaction log. Related coverage appeared on MLB.com news as well MLB.com story.

Short, low-cost veteran deals typically mean the player has an opportunity to win playing time but not a guaranteed role; how much Castellanos plays will depend on the Padres depth chart, matchups, and performance in camp.

How a one-year, league-minimum deal is interpreted

Clubs often sign veteran bats to short, inexpensive pacts to add depth, bench options, or platoon pieces without long-term financial commitment; that is consistent with a player who moves from a multi-year, higher-cost contract into a veteran s short-term opportunity.

Future movement, including possible additional signings or trades involving a veteran on a low-cost deal, will follow performance and roster need rather than being predetermined by the initial signing.

How MLB offsets and release payments generally work

Basic mechanics: release, new signing, and offset

Funded Plays Challenges

View FundedPlays Challenges

The basic mechanics are that the releasing club remains responsible for guaranteed pay, while any new contract a released player signs can reduce that obligation by the amount of the new salary, often limited by the league minimum calculation; reporting on the Castellanos release notes Philadelphia remained responsible for most of the 2026 pay subject to an offset from the new deal MLB Trade Rumors report.

Exact accounting depends on how the new contract is processed and on collective-bargaining language, so interested readers should consult official contract records for a precise charge and offset calculation rather than treating summary reports as final legal statements.

Where to check contract charge details

Public contract databases provide useful summaries of salaries and contract lengths, which is why sources that track individual contracts are commonly consulted when a team releases a player with guaranteed money remaining Spotrac contract page. See our guide on how Funded Plays evaluations work here.

For exact ledger charges and formal offset computation, official league accounting or union filings are the final authority, and reporters generally cite those sources when precise numbers are required for official disclosure.

How this shift changes trade-deadline, fantasy, and betting considerations

Why release changes a player's deadline status

Because a released player is free to sign elsewhere, the former club no longer holds a trade asset, which removes that player from the former club s deadline calculus and alters how other clubs view available targets.

Fantasy managers tracking roster possibilities should reallocate attention to players still on the Phillies roster and to the new club s usage patterns when projecting playing time and fantasy value, rather than treating earlier trade chatter as an ongoing possibility.

What fantasy managers should watch next

Key signals to monitor include official depth charts, Spring training playing-time splits, and early-season lineup consistency on the player s new team; those items give better short-term predictive power than offseason rumor cycles.

When following betting or prediction contexts, maintain a practice of checking official transaction records and depth charts before adjusting lineups or prediction entries to account for roster shifts.

How to track official MLB transactions and verify reports

Primary sources to follow

The most authoritative sources are the MLB.com transactions pages for the relevant dates, which list releases and signings with precise timestamps that let you verify when a roster move occurred MLB.com transaction log.

How to read transaction entries

Secondary checks include player transaction pages and aggregator sites that compile date-stamped moves; for example, player transaction histories and sports-transaction aggregators show each logged move and can confirm the same entries found on MLB.com ESPN player transactions. You can also consult the ESPN team transactions page for Philadelphia ESPN transactions.

Minimalist 2D vector of empty batting cage and vintage Padres style gear draped on fence with bat helmet and glove evoking a veteran outfielder giants phillies prediction

When you see a rumor or a report, compare its timestamp to the league transaction page for the date to resolve whether the rumor became an official move.

Common reporting pitfalls and how to spot speculation

Difference between rumor, report, and transaction

Media coverage often distinguishes between exploration or chatter, reporter sourcing, and an official transaction; exploration reporting is a sign of interest, not the same as a completed move, and in this cycle the official release entry is the confirmable action MLB Trade Rumors report.

How salary reporting can be summarized incorrectly

Contract summaries sometimes omit offset language or fail to spell out how a release alters ledger responsibility, which is why reading both the transaction entry and a contract summary together gives a clearer picture while still leaving the official accounting to league records Spotrac contract page.

When tracking financial implications, look for explicit language about offsets and new-contract amounts rather than relying on headline summaries that may simplify the accounting.

Practical scenarios: what to watch next for both clubs

If Castellanos earns regular playing time

Signals that he is settling into a regular role include consistent starts in the Padres lineup, sustained plate appearances against varied pitching, and placement on the day-to-day or weekly depth chart entries that indicate the team trusts him in key matchups.

Monitor game logs and early-season lineup trends to see whether he becomes a regular contributor or remains a depth option used for specific matchups.

If Castellanos struggles or moves again

If playing time falls and the team opts to designate him for assignment or pursue another roster change, the transaction pages will show the next official step; at that point, the former assumptions about his status will be replaced by new entries on the league s transaction ledger.

In either scenario, official depth charts and daily transaction updates are the practical indicators that readers should use to update their expectations quickly.

A short checklist for Phillies fans tracking roster impacts

Three quick steps to follow after a release

Check the MLB.com transactions page for official confirmation of any roster move.
Monitor the Phillies official depth chart and team notes for immediate fill-in moves and spring camp assignments.
Set alerts for payroll or contract reports if you care about long-term financial implications and how they might shape future roster decisions.

These three steps keep you on top of verifiable updates without succumbing to rumor-driven noise. Find more resources at Funded Plays.

Conclusion: The definitive answer and what to monitor next

Recap

Definitively, the Phillies released Nick Castellanos on February 12, 2026, and he signed with the San Diego Padres on February 17, 2026; those two public entries in the MLB transaction records resolve the question of whether he left Philadelphia MLB.com transaction log.

The public reporting and contract summaries also show that Philadelphia retained responsibility for most of the 2026 salary on paper, subject to any offset from the new signing Spotrac contract page.

Next steps for readers who want to follow developments are to watch MLB transaction pages and the Padres depth chart for playing-time signals that will determine Castellanos s role and any future roster moves. Visit our blog for tracking guides our blog.

Is Nick Castellanos still under contract with the Phillies?

No. The Phillies released Nick Castellanos on February 12, 2026, and he subsequently signed with another club.

Who signed Castellanos after his release?

MLB transaction records show the San Diego Padres signed Castellanos on February 17, 2026.

Does the Phillies release mean they do not pay his remaining salary?

The Phillies generally remain responsible for guaranteed salary after a release, though the obligation is reduced by any offset from the new contract.

If you follow roster moves closely, rely on date-stamped transaction pages and official depth charts for the most reliable signals. For fans tracking Castellanos, focus on the Padres lineup and early-season playing-time trends to see whether he secures consistent opportunity.