Shildt Retires from Padres: Mental and Physical Fatigue Weighs on the Manager

Mike Shildt Steps Down as San Diego Padres Manager

Mike Shildt has decided to step down as manager of the San Diego Padres, despite having two years remaining on his contract. The announcement was confirmed on Monday by the franchise. Shildt, 57, communicated his decision to the team on Saturday, nine days after the Padres were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in a three-game wild card series. The manager explained that the demands of the baseball season have severely affected him mentally, physically, and emotionally.

The demands of the baseball season have taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Mike Shildt

Shildt led the Padres to the postseason in each of the two seasons he was in charge of the team. Shildt himself stated that he made the decision on his own.

While I have always tried to serve others, it is time for me to take care of myself and leave on my own terms.

Mike Shildt

In his statement, Shildt added: “I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler’s vision of bringing a World Series championship to San Diego.” Shildt’s record as Padres manager was 183-141. In the current season, the team achieved 90 victories and finished second in the National League West Division before being eliminated by the Cubs.

I am very grateful to our players. San Diego is proud of the Padres players. It’s a group that behaves with class, is dedicated to each other and to the common goal of winning a World Series. I love our players and I will miss them very much!

Mike Shildt

Before joining the Padres organization in early 2022 as a player development coach, Shildt was the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, recording a winning record in each of his three full seasons. He was named National League Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading the Cardinals to 91 wins and the National League Central Division title. The Padres’ general manager, A.J. Preller, expressed his gratitude to Shildt for his contributions to the team and the San Diego community. Preller announced that the search for the new manager will begin immediately with the goal of winning the World Series championship in 2026. The new Padres manager will be the eighth person to lead the dugout since Preller fired Bud Black in June 2015. San Diego becomes the eighth MLB team with a manager vacancy and the ninth to change managers this offseason.