Padres’ Mike Shildt Under Fire: San Diego Reportedly Leaning Toward Letting Manager Walk After 2025 Despite Winning Record

Despite guiding the San Diego Padres to a winning record so far in 2025, manager Mike Shildt appears to be facing an uncertain future with the franchise. According to several league insiders and team sources, the Padres are reportedly leaning toward not offering Shildt a contract extension beyond the current 2025 season—signaling possible leadership changes regardless of the on-field results.

Shildt, who took over the Padres’ managerial reins before the 2024 season, has overseen a team that has largely rebounded from a disappointing 2023 campaign under Bob Melvin. Yet, while the wins have returned, questions persist internally and externally about the overall direction of the club, Shildt’s handling of the roster, and whether his vision aligns with that of the front office and ownership.

Sources close to the team indicate that while Shildt has done an admirable job improving clubhouse culture and returning the team to playoff contention, there are growing doubts from key decision-makers about his long-term fit. With the Padres already navigating a period of financial recalibration and a roster undergoing subtle transitions, some in the organization believe a new managerial voice could be needed to align more closely with President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller’s evolving philosophy.

Shildt arrived in San Diego with an impressive résumé, having previously won National League Manager of the Year honors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019. He was brought in to stabilize a Padres team that had underachieved despite having one of the league’s highest payrolls and most star-studded lineups. After spending time as a senior advisor in 2022 and 2023, Shildt’s elevation to the manager role was seen as a move toward continuity and maturity.

And to his credit, the Padres have played more disciplined and consistent baseball since his hiring. They’ve hovered above .500 for much of the 2025 season and remain in the thick of the National League Wild Card race. He’s managed injuries, clubhouse egos, and a turbulent media atmosphere with relative calm.

Still, critics have pointed to key flaws: questionable bullpen usage, inconsistent offensive output despite marquee names, and the lack of a clearly defined identity. Some younger players have also reportedly voiced concerns about unclear roles or inconsistent communication—an area that could be weighing heavily in the front office’s evaluation.

A.J. Preller, whose own future with the team is occasionally questioned, remains a central figure in the franchise’s decision-making. Though Preller and Shildt have worked well together publicly, sources say their long-term visions may not entirely align. Preller has long favored managers who bring high-energy innovation to match his ambitious player development and acquisition strategies.

The team’s ownership, dealing with reduced flexibility following high payroll years and recent trades, may also see the end of Shildt’s contract as an opportunity to reset the franchise’s tone without the immediate backlash of a mid-season firing. By letting Shildt finish out 2025, they avoid dramatic disruptions—but still keep their options open for a more dynamic or modern hire in the offseason.

If the Padres fail to make the playoffs or exit early in October, the decision may be easier to justify. But if Shildt leads the team deep into the postseason, ownership could face public pressure to reconsider. Still, insiders say that even a strong finish may not be enough to guarantee an extension.

Potential successors could include younger managerial candidates from the Padres’ own development pipeline or rising names across baseball with a reputation for modern strategy and player communication.

Meanwhile, Shildt remains focused on the job at hand. When asked recently about his future, he deflected speculation with professionalism: “That’s not my focus. My focus is today’s game and helping this team win. That’s all I can control.”