ESPN REPORT: The San Diego Padres Head Coach is Been Fired Due to….
San Diego Just two years after his tenure with St. Louis ended prematurely despite him leading the Cardinals to three consecutive postseason berths and winning the 2019 NL Manager of the Year Award, the San Diego Padres have offered Mike Shildt another opportunity to manage in the major leagues.
With one year remaining on his Padres contract, Shildt signed a two-year deal on Tuesday to replace Bob Melvin, who was hired away by his hometown San Francisco Giants on October 25. That put an end to the two years of strained communication with general manager A.J. Preller.
Shildt remarked, “I’m really grateful for a second act,” during a press conference at Petco Park. “Not everyone understands it. You don’t realize that there are only thirty of these positions. You can count on me to not take this one for granted. I’m enthusiastic about our group.”
Peter Seidler, the Padres chairman and owner, passed away a week ago at the age of sixty-three, a man that both Shildt and Preller talked warmly of.
Last spring, Seidler had a dream in which he saw a parade and the Padres winning the World Series. However, the star-studded team, with the third-highest opening-day payroll in baseball ($258 million), collapsed miserably and was eliminated from the postseason.
After joining the group two years ago, Shildt stated he frequently met with Seidler “to talk baseball, talk life, talk community, talk charity.” Everyone knows what a beautiful soul she is. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known such a lovely dude. He exuded such unadulterated sweetness.
“I’m going to be a big part in helping carry his vision for the San Diego Padres moving forward to ultimately us winning a first World Series championship,” Shildt said. “That’ll be one way we can remember the great legacy of Peter Seidler.”
Since 2022, Shildt has served as a senior adviser to the Padres’ player development and major league staff. With talents like Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts leading the major league club, his familiarity with the team’s best minor league prospects may prove advantageous.
After Matt Williams underwent surgery for colon cancer early in the 2023 season, Shildt took over as third base coach. Due to numerous medical circumstances during the previous season, Shildt also filled in as the bench coach, first base coach, and third base coach.
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He is the fifth full-time manager under Preller since the middle of the 2015 campaign, and the third manager of San Diego in the previous four seasons. Melvin was the only manager to lead the Padres to consecutive winning seasons under the general manager, and Preller’s clubs have never won a division title or even 90 games in a season. Melvin led the Padres to their first NL Championship Series since winning the pennant in 1998 during his rookie season.
In 2003, Shildt began his career with the Cardinals as a scout. He later transitioned to player development and advanced through the minor league ranks. In August 2018, he was named manager on an interim basis, and the following season, he assumed the permanent position. That season, the Cardinals got to the NLCS before being swept by the Nationals, winning 91 games and giving Shildt the NL Manager of the Year honor.
With the 2020 season cut short due to the pandemic, the Cardinals faced a wild-card series loss to the Padres, falling 2-1. They advanced to the wild card round in 2021 after going on a franchise-record 17-game winning streak, only to fall short against the Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off home run. After one week, Shildt was let go due to “philosophical differences” between him, the coaching staff, and the front office, according to Cardinals president John Mozeliak.
Late in the previous season, there were rumors circulating that the Padres were a disorganized team lacking clubhouse leadership. Melvin and Preller agreed to continue working together after the season concluded, but the Giants signed Melvin after requesting permission to interview him.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work with A.J.,” stated Shildt. “At this point, I believe it’s critical that our actions and methods are in alignment. This is what we’re doing. The functional teams come out on top, and I’m excited about stability and teamwork in our front office work as well as with our club throughout the entire vertical chain of the business.”
Shildt was approached by the Padres two years ago about taking over as manager of the club, but according to Preller, he didn’t feel ready and could still contribute to the organization in other ways.
Shildt “is a baseball expert,” according to Preller. His skill at the game, the Xs and Os, strategy, teaching the game, and advancing the game on the field has been developed over many years of managing; it was honed throughout numerous bus trips, clubhouse conversations, chalk talks, instructional leagues, and eventually as a major league manager and coach. Teams directed by Mike Shildt are extremely organized and meticulous. He has an honest and genuine manner.”
