Mike Shildt retires as Padres manager in MLB shocker

A prime MLB managerial job is surprisingly open.

Padres skipper Mike Shildt has retired after guiding the team to the playoffs in his lone two seasons, the team announced Monday.

Shildt, 57, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that the role took a “severe toll” on him both “mentally and physically,” and he informed the club of his decision Saturday.

“It’s time I take care of myself and exit on my terms,” he told the outlet.

While the MLB offseason can be unpredictable, this news came as a bit of a shock.

Shildt guided the Padres to the NL wild-card series, where they lost in three games to the Cubs, and they seem primed to continue to be a contender in the years to come.

However, Shildt told the Union-Tribune that he had an idea following the team’s season-ending loss to the Cubs that he had managed his final game.

Shildt guided the team to a 90-72 record this season and a 252-189 record over the last two years, with the Padres advancing to the NLDS last year before losing to the Dodgers in five games.

He spent five-plus seasons as an MLB manager and the two teams he oversaw — he also guided the Cardinals — each made the playoffs in all of his non-interim seasons.

Shildt led the Cardinals to the playoffs in each season from 2019-21, including a pair of seasons with 90-plus win in 2019 and 2021.

He finished his career with a 252-199 record (.559 winning percentage), and sources told the Union-Tribune that he came to the decision by himself.

“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,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said in a release, per MLB.com. “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.”

The Padres are the ninth team to change managers either during the season or since their offseason started, joining the Rangers, Angels, Giants, Twins, Braves, Rockies, Nationals and Orioles.

Only the Rangers have hired their next skipper, grabbing ex-Marlins manager Skip Schumaker.

The Union-Tribune expects the Padres to consider internal candidates.