The San Diego Padres started the 2024 MLB season with low hopes. Following a poor 2023 season, prior manager Bob Melvin left for his hometown of San Francisco to lead the Giants. The Padres traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees and reduced their payroll dramatically. They appointed their next manager inside, appointing Mike Shildt from consultant to player development to manager.
Shildt’s first season as manager in San Diego was a huge success. The Padres played like a pesky, competitive team right away. After the MLB All-Star break, the squad just looked like one of the greatest in baseball, going on a long winning streak near the end of July. They played against the greatest teams and finished the season with a better record than two division champions. The Padres finished 93-69, securing the top Wild Card slot in the National League playoffs.
The Padres swept the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the playoffs, advancing to the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres lost the series in five games, preventing them from returning to the NL Championship Series, although the defeat did not detract from San Diego’s successful rebound season.
Shildt’s performance in his first season as Padres manager has raised the question of whether or not he will be renewed. Shildt was elevated to manager on a two-year contract, therefore he is starting his final season.
Padres general manager AJ Preller stated earlier this week that discussions about a possible deal with Shildt have begun, adding that Shildt wishes to remain in San Diego.
“He obviously enjoys it here and wants to be here, but I know his focus is also on just getting better,” Preller said, according to Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union Tribune. “And if you do that, then I think he has a lot of trust and faith that things … from an organization standpoint, that we’ll figure some things out there.”
The Padres will most certainly want to keep pitching coach Ruben Niebla, who had a key role in the Padres’ pitching performance this season. Niebla may be considered for a management position with another team, but the Padres hope to entice him back.
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