BREAKING: Mike Shildt retires as Padres manager
A.J. Preller now begins the search for his 6th manager hire as the head of Padres baseball operations.
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt has announced his retirement, leaving the team searching for a replacement. We're talking about it live on YouTube right now:
Less than a week ago, San Diego Padres team chairman John Seidler said, in a letter to season ticket holders, that the team would be performing a "thorough review of our organization with an eye towards improving and winning our first World Series Championship."
That raised some eyebrows, with more than a few people wondering if it meant the end for A.J. Preller's time running baseball operations in San Diego. Even fewer thought that Mike Shildt, who has managed the team to back-to-back 90-win seasons for the first time in franchise history and holds the best winning percentage of any Padres manager in history, would be out.
Kevin Acee broke the news of Shildt's retirement earlier this morning:
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Here's the reasoning given for Shildt stepping away:
After two seasons as the Padres’ manager, he is walking away from a contract that has two years remaining, citing a “severe toll” the job has taken on him “mentally and physically.”
Shildt, who has led his team to the postseason in each of the five full seasons he has managed, informed the Padres of his decision on Saturday.
And here's Shildt's retirement letter:
Just as a reminder, the Padres signed Mike Shildt to a contract extension last November, less than a year ago.
Whether this is a way for the team to allow Shildt to keep his dignity while being pushed out, or whether he honestly just needs a break from the grind of being a baseball manager, is probably something we won't find out. Both would seem like reasonable decisions.
According to Acee, "Shildt and two Padres sources said that the decision to retire was Shildt’s alone."
In a statement, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said: “We would like to congratulate Mike on a successful career and thank him for his significant contributions to the Padres and the San Diego community over the last four years, including consecutive 90-win seasons and two postseason appearances as manager. His dedication and passion for the game of baseball will leave an impact on our organization, and we wish him the best in his next chapter. The search for a new manager of the Padres will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026.”
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