SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt has retired, he announced Monday.
Shildt, 57, led the Padres to consecutive postseason appearances and a 183-141 record in his two seasons as manager. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Padres from 2022-23.
“It is with a heavy but full heart that I am announcing my retirement from managing the San Diego Padres,” he wrote in an email to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “It is a decision that I thought about during the season and became at peace with over the last 10 days. I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler’s vision of bringing a World Series championship to San Diego. We fell short of the ultimate goal, but I am proud of what the players, staff and organization were able to accomplish the last two seasons.
“The grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally. While it has always been about serving others, it’s time I take care of myself and exit on my terms,” he added.
Shildt had two years remaining on his contract extension that he signed with the Padres in Nov. 2024, according to MLB.com.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller issued a statement wishing Shildt well in his retirement.
“We would like to congratulate Mike on a successful career and thank him for his significant contributions to the Padres and the San Diego community over the last four years, including consecutive 90-win seasons and two postseason appearances as manager,” Preller said. “His dedication and passion for the game of baseball will leave an impact on our organization, and we wish him the best in his next chapter. The search for a new manager of the Padres will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026.”
Prior to his time with the Padres, Shildt served as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018-21.
He led the Cardinals to a 252-199 record, including three playoff appearances in four seasons. He was named the National League Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading the Cards to a 91-71 record to win the NL Central division.
“The Padres are a talented, but tough team to manage,” said Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Guardians beat reporter for cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. “A lot of high-priced players, who have to compete with the mega-rich Dodgers to get to the World Series. A.J. Preller is an aggressive general manager who has already been through seven managers since taking the job in 2014. That should tell you something.”
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