Mike Shildt retires after 2 seasons managing Padres

The San Diego Padres have a sudden vacancy in the dugout, as Mike Shildt announced his retirement from managing Monday, the 57-year-old told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Padres didn't force Shildt out, and retirement was his decision, both he and multiple sources told Acee.

"It is a decision that I thought about during the season and became at peace with over the last 10 days," Shildt wrote in an email to Acee. "I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve (late Padres owner) 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."

Shildt guided the Padres to the playoffs in each of his two seasons with the club, leading them to 93 wins in 2024 and 90 victories this past year. However, his teams won just a single playoff round before losing a five-game division series to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024.

"(Mike's) 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," Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said in a statement. "The search for a new manager of the Padres will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026."

The North Carolina native compiled a 435-340 record over six seasons in the dugout between the Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Shildt won NL Manager of the Year in 2019 with St. Louis and steered his squads to the playoffs in each of his five full campaigns managing.

San Diego will now embark on a search for its fourth manager of this decade and the fifth hired by Preller. None of those full-time skippers has spent more than two seasons with the club.

The Padres have built an expensive and star-studded roster that's made the playoffs four times in the last six campaigns. Despite their regular-season success, they've yet to break through in October, winning just four playoff series and advancing to the NLCS just once (in 2022). San Diego last won an NL pennant in 1998.

With Shildt's retirement, there are eight vacant MLB managerial positions.