Shildt introduced as Padres' manager: 'Let 'em go play with joy'

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres hired Mike Shildt to be the 23rd manager in franchise history on Tuesday, finalizing a two-year contract with the 55-year-old, who spent the past two seasons as a senior advisor with the club.

Shildt was introduced in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Petco Park, and he quickly made his ambitions clear.

“I love our group,” Shildt said. “It’s a fantastic group of young men with clear talent. Ultimately, what we’re here to do is win, and we’re going to do it together as an organization.”

Shildt did plenty of that in his first stint as a big league skipper. He managed the Cardinals from 2018-21 after spending more than a decade as a coach in the St. Louis system. Shildt earned the 2019 NL Manager of the Year Award and reached the playoffs in each of his three full seasons.

“Mike Shildt teams are very prepared and detail-oriented,” said general manager A.J. Preller. “His communication with players and his style is very open and transparent. … The game’s about winning, and Mike’s done a ton of winning.”

Shildt's hiring comes less than one month after former manager Bob Melvin accepted the managerial job in San Francisco, after the Padres permitted him to interview with the Giants. That started a four-week process, which was put on pause last week while the organization mourned the passing of owner and chairman Peter Seidler. Owner Eric Kutsenda was appointed chairman and interim control person on Friday.

The Padres interviewed several managerial candidates, including offensive coordinator/bench coach Ryan Flaherty, Angels infield coach Benji Gil and former Angels manager Phil Nevin. Shildt and Flaherty were the perceived favorites for the job, and it is still unclear whether Flaherty will remain with the organization on Shildt’s staff.

Preller said the process of filling out a coaching staff will begin imminently. He recently confirmed that Ruben Niebla, under contract for the 2024 season, will return as pitching coach. The rest of that staff hasn't been defined yet, but Shildt noted, “[The] staff that I worked with was very talented. High-character people, and I’d welcome the opportunity to work with any of them.”

Shildt is tasked with managing a Padres team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2023 season. Despite World Series ambitions, San Diego finished 82-80 and missed the postseason.

The offseason will undoubtedly bring some reshuffling, but the bulk of the Padres' core is expected to remain intact, particularly on offense. Shildt, having spent the past two seasons with the club, is already familiar with that core.

It’s now his job to get the most out of it.

“First of all,” Shildt said, “you need to make sure that they’re themselves. … I mean, these are high-level, high-performing, exceptional talents that we have in this club. I’m excited to work with them, help create a structure where they can thrive and create accountability where the team can thrive as well.

“So, let them be themselves in a team setting. Get buy-in from them, which I don’t think is going to be an issue. These guys are tremendous guys, super hungry. And let 'em go play with joy.”

Shildt’s familiarity with the entirety of the organization clearly appealed to Preller. In addition to his work with the big league club, Shildt spent time at the team’s affiliates and helped run parts of Minor League camp.

Perhaps just as important is Shildt’s familiarity with Preller. Of Preller’s five full-time managers in San Diego, Shildt will be the first who has worked with the GM before at the big league level, and the two clearly have a good working rapport.

At Tuesday’s press conference, Preller brought up the way Shildt’s Cardinals knocked the Padres out of the 2021 postseason with their 17-game winning streak that September. Ten minutes later, in response to an unrelated question, Shildt noted, “We did eliminate you -- but we owed you one from 2020.”

Shildt, of course, was referring to the dramatic three-game Wild Card Series in which the Padres rallied from a four-run deficit in Game 2 before shutting out St. Louis in Game 3. Judging by the way the two bantered, this clearly wasn’t the first time they’d brought it up.

Shildt joined the organization after he was let go by the Cardinals following that 2021 season. He’s worked closely with the front office since. Prior managers have reportedly butted heads with Preller, but he and Shildt appear to be very much on the same page.

“We’re equally yoked,” Shildt said. “That doesn’t mean we always have to agree, but we always have each other’s back, which is very important.”

Added Preller: “We have a team that can win a lot of games and play in the playoffs next year, so I think not having to get Mike up to speed on where we’re at and what this group is capable of -- he knows that. He’s seen it first-hand the last couple years. That was definitely a factor for us.”

Now Shildt and Preller enter a critical season for the franchise. Even after a disappointing 2023 campaign, the Padres believe they’re squarely within their window for contention.

Their first order of business was appointing a manager. Next, they’ll fill out a coaching staff. Then, a pitching staff. In the meantime, the offense will surely see its share of reshuffling.

Before Shildt’s first spring at the helm, a busy winter awaits.