Mike Shildt retires as Padres manager after historic two-year run

San Diego, California – In a stunning move that caught much of the baseball world off guard, Padres manager Mike Shildt announced his retirement on Monday, ending a short but remarkably successful tenure that brought San Diego some of the best baseball it has ever seen.

Shildt informed the club of his decision over the weekend, and by Monday afternoon both sides made it official. The 56-year-old departs with a .565 winning percentage—the highest in franchise history for a full-time manager—and a pair of 90-win seasons that delivered consecutive postseason berths for the first time since 2005-06.

“It is with a heavy but full heart that I am announcing my retirement from managing the San Diego Padres,” Shildt wrote in a letter first obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune. “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.”

Just last fall, Shildt signed an extension that would have kept him under contract through 2027, which makes Monday’s news even more surprising. He took over following the 2023 season after two years working in the Padres’ front office and immediately helped turn the club into a consistent contender. His teams didn’t quite reach the mountaintop—losing a winner-take-all NLDS Game 5 at Dodger Stadium in 2024 and Game 3 of the 2025 Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field—but they made winning baseball feel like the new standard in San Diego.

“I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler’s vision of bringing a World Series Championship to San Diego,” Shildt wrote. “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.”

Padres general manager A.J. Preller praised Shildt’s leadership and his role in stabilizing the team after a turbulent few years. “His dedication and passion for the game of baseball will leave an impact on our organization,” Preller said in a statement. “We wish him the best in his next chapter.” Preller is expected to address reporters Tuesday as the team begins its search for a new skipper—its 24th in franchise history and sixth since he took over the front office in 2014.

Shildt’s departure leaves a clear playoff contender without a captain, but the roster faces big questions heading into 2026. Several key players are entering free agency, and the NL West remains as punishing as ever.

Still, Shildt leaves the franchise in far better shape than he found it. “I’m confident I left things in a better place,” he wrote. “San Diego is rightfully proud of the Padres players. It is a group that conducts themselves with class, is dedicated to each other, and the common goal of winning a World Series. I love our players and will miss them dearly.”

For Padres fans, that sentiment feels mutual.