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Padres Name Former Reliever Craig Stammen Manager on Three-Year Deal

The first-time skipper signals a bet on clubhouse leadership.

Overview

  • San Diego announced the 41-year-old’s hiring Thursday, giving the 13-year MLB reliever his first managerial job despite no coaching or managing experience.
  • Since retiring in 2023, Stammen has worked as a special assistant across player development and the major-league staff under A. J. Preller.
  • He was chosen over reported finalists Albert Pujols, Nick Hundley and pitching coach Ruben Niebla after in-person interviews.
  • The club plans to retain Niebla and most of the staff while searching for a new hitting coach and third-base coach.
  • Key offseason questions await, with starters Dylan Cease and Michael King entering free agency and Yu Darvish expected to miss 2026 following elbow surgery.