Overview

• Mike Shildt has been appointed as the new manager of the San Diego Padres, marking the fourth full-time managerial hire for A.J. Preller, the Padres’ top baseball executive since August 2014.
• Shildt has previous experience as a big-league manager in St. Louis from 2018-21 and has worked as a special assistant under Preller for two seasons.
• The Padres have seen a high turnover of managers and coaches, with at least 30 leaving the organization since 2015, often due to micromanaging, paranoia, distrust and scapegoating within the franchise.
• Shildt faces significant challenges in his new role, including maintaining organizational alignment, winning over the clubhouse, filling out a coaching staff, and integrating young players.
• The Padres are expected to face a sizable reduction of payroll and may have to trade their best hitter, Juan Soto, before the start of the 2024 season.