Mike Shildt Retires as Padres Manager After 2025 MLB Playoff Loss to Cubs

The San Diego Padres announced manager Mike Shildt is retiring following the 2025 MLB season.

Shildt had a 183-141 record in his two years with San Diego. He also managed the St. Louis Cardinals for four seasons, compiling a .559 winning percentage.

Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller praised the 57-year-old for his "significant contributions too the Padres and the San Diego community":

Shildt did reasonably well in San Diego. The team made the playoffs in his two years at the helm despite ownership trimming the budget following the death of Peter Seidler in November 2023.

In 2024, the Padres' record improved by 11 wins even after trading Juan Soto to the New York Yankees that offseason. This past spring was a similar story as Preller had to shop at the lower end of the market in free agency.

The front office did at least get the green light to make a flurry of deals ahead of the trade deadline. Star reliever Mason Miller, All-Star slugger Ryan O'Hearn and outfielder Ramón Laureano were the headliners.

But having to hire a new manager adds to what was already an offseason full of questions.

Dylan Cease, Luis Arráez and O'Hearn are headed to free agency. Two-time All-Star Robert Suarez can opt out of his contract. Michael King has a mutual option, so he might be hitting the open market as well.

Preller has to replace a lot of talent before even considering the other areas of the roster that need to be addressed in the wake of losing to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series.

Preller's track record with manager hires may invite some angst in Southern California, too. Andy Green proved to be a poor fit once the Padres raised their ambitions by signing Manny Machado in 2019. Then came Jayce Tinger and Bob Melvin, who like Shildt only lasted two years in the role.

Preller remains the common denominator as the Padres went from a perennial loser to a franchise that spared no expense in pursuit of a title only to continually fall short. Sooner or later, it's worth asking whether the manager is the only thing that should change in San Diego.