The Padres have taken a significant step in shaping their team for the upcoming season, naming Mike Shildt as their new manager on a two-year contract. This decision follows the departure of former manager Bob Melvin, who moved to the Giants. Shildt, a seasoned manager with over two decades of experience in professional baseball, is viewed as a proven winner with a strong baseball intellect and a passion for teaching the game.
Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller expressed confidence in Shildt’s ability to lead the team towards their goal of winning a World Series championship. Shildt’s hiring marks a pivotal moment for the Padres, who may be entering a period of rebuilding.
Amidst managerial changes, there is speculation in the baseball community about the potential trade of star outfielder Juan Soto, with the Yankees being prominently mentioned in the rumor mill. ESPN’s Jeff Passan has expressed the belief that the Padres have a strong chance of acquiring Soto.
The Padres, who finished the previous season with a disappointing 82-80 record after reaching the NLCS in 2022, are also contending with the free agency status of key players such as Cy Young winner Blake Snell and top closer Josh Hader.
Mike Shildt, 55, brings a wealth of experience to the Padres, having served as a senior adviser for the team in the past two years and previously managing the Cardinals. His surprising departure from the Cardinals in 2021, despite leading them to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, was attributed to “philosophical reasons” according to Cardinals president John Mozeliak.
