After two years with the San Diego Padres, Manager Mike Shildt is stepping down from his role and retiring.
Mike Shildt led the Padres to two consecutive 90-plus win seasons, the first in franchise history. In both instances, the club secured two postseason berths. Before his short venture with the Padres, Shildt managed the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, where they went to the postseason three times.
Shildt has never managed a full-length regular season resulting in fewer than 90 wins, and he won Manager of the Year honors in 2019, leading the Cardinals to win the NL Central division.
Reasons for Shildt’s Retirement
Mike Shildt was signed with the Padres through 2027 and, by all accounts, was a lock for the team next year. However, a letter from Shildt to the San Diego Union-Tribune sheds some light on the situation.
“The grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally. While it has always been about serving others, it’s time I take care of myself and exit on my terms,” wrote Shildt.
It’s fair to say the last two seasons for the Padres weren’t at all a straight line.
Shildt is known for having a so-called “old school” approach to the game of baseball, which was often criticized. His philosophy ultimately led to him being fired by the Cardinals organization. With the Birds, Shildt had a 252-199 record.
Many saw this come to a head during the 2025 season. The offensively weak Padres managed to scrape by thanks to their elite pitching staff and small-ball tactics. The Padres led the league in bunts this season, but were in the bottom five for offense.
The Padres were first in the NL West for 23 days this season and nearly held onto first place toward the end of the regular season. In the end, the Padres would fall to the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wildcard.
What’s Next for Shildt?
A note from Padres General Manager AJ Preller said, “The search for a new manager of the Padres will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series Championship in 2026.”
Of the available managers on the table, Bob Melvin and Bruce Bochy, who were recently let go by their respective organizations, stick out. Both are former Padres managers and have had success in the past with them. Bochy, in particular, was the last manager to take the Padres to the World Series in 1998. That said, it doesn’t seem likely that he will return to the franchise.
Shildt is one of eight men to manage a Major League Baseball team despite never playing professional baseball at any level. With the Padres, he held a 183-141 record.
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