It’s time for the San Diego Padres to shake up their inconsistent bench, and that means making a tough call on Nick Castellanos.

The veteran slugger has been mired in a brutal start to the 2026 season, hitting just .164/.215/.279 with one home run and nine RBI over 62 at-bats. Those numbers don’t inspire much confidence that a turnaround is coming anytime soon.

Padres fans had high hopes when they envisioned Castellanos as a powerful right-handed bat at DH or first base. But through the season’s first month, that vision has yet to materialize. At 34 years old, it’s fair to wonder whether Castellanos can still be the run-producer this lineup desperately needs.

The next logical move for the Friars is to designate him for assignment (DFA), giving him a chance to catch on with another club while freeing up a roster spot for a more reliable option. Castellanos’ struggles at the plate have been glaring: his strikeout rate has climbed to 26.2%—a career high—and he’s managed just five extra-base hits all season.

To be fair, inconsistent playing time hasn’t helped. Over his 14-year career, Castellanos has averaged 130 games per season, but the Padres haven’t given him the regular at-bats needed to find his rhythm. The problem is, his glove doesn’t warrant more starts, and the team can’t afford to wait any longer for his bat to wake up.

Making this move would allow the front office to add a player who’s more comfortable in a bench role. The ideal candidate needs to be versatile enough to play multiple positions—but more importantly, they must deliver in clutch situations. That’s been a persistent hole in this lineup for several seasons now.

The Padres have other roster issues to sort out, but as we move deeper into the season, upgrading the bench has to be a priority. With the trade deadline approaching, the front office may need to sacrifice some versatility to add a proven bat. In the end, a seasoned veteran who can produce in big moments might be exactly what this team needs to get back on track.