Hiring of Shildt Marks Third Manager in Four Seasons for Padres

After two years since his sudden dismissal by the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Shildt is returning to the dugout as the new manager of the San Diego Padres, the team announced on Tuesday. Shildt has signed a two-year contract to lead the Padres.

He will be taking over from Bob Melvin, who recently moved to the San Francisco Giants with a year left on his contract. Shildt’s appointment comes after a rocky two-year relationship that Melvin had with general manager A.J. Preller.

Shildt was voted NL Manager of the Year in 2019 with the Cardinals and now steps in to guide the Padres, a team that faced significant challenges in the 2023 season despite a strong performance in the previous year’s NL Championship Series. The team’s opening day payroll was the third-highest in the majors at $258 million, signaling high expectations for Shildt.

Having served as a senior advisor to the major league staff and player development department with the Padres since 2022, Shildt is well-acquainted with the team’s top minor league prospects. This familiarity could be a major plus in leading a big-league roster featuring stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts.

Notably, Shildt’s versatility was evident when he filled in as the third base coach during the 2023 season due to a medical situation. Such adaptability and experience bode well for the Padres’ future under his leadership.

Preller, who has seen four managers in the past four seasons, is hoping for stability and success under Shildt’s guidance. Melvin, the previous manager, was the only one to lead the Padres to consecutive winning seasons under Preller’s tenure.

Shildt’s journey in baseball began as a scout with the Cardinals in 2003, eventually earning the role of interim manager before being officially promoted in the following season. His successful tenure with the Cardinals came to an end after leading the team to a franchise-record 17-game winning streak in 2021 and a wild-card game appearance. He was fired due to “philosophical differences” with the front office, leading him to his new opportunity with the Padres.