Ex-Cardinals Manager Reportedly 'Favorite' To Land Padres' Manager Spot

It sounds like a former Cardinals manager may be getting a second chance

The San Diego Padres are going to look very different in 2024.

San Diego -- like the St. Louis Cardinals underwhelmed this season. The Padres widely were expected to be among Major League Baseball's most elite clubs and compete for a World Series title, but that didn't end up happening. Instead, San Diego finished the season with a disappointing 82-80 record and missed the postseason. 

The Padres will be looking to make changes to the roster this offseason and also now need to fill the manager spot after former San Diego skipper Bob Melvin left to take the same position with the San Francisco Giants. Former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt has been linked to the Padres' open job on multiple occasions and reportedly is the favorite to land it, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale. 

"The Padres will be hiring their sixth manager in just 10 years under (general manager) A.J. Preller," Nightengale said. "Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Shildt is the favorite while associate manager Ryan Flaherty is getting strong consideration."

Shildt currently is a senior advisor with the Padres but makes sense as a fit to take over the manager position. He was named the Cardinals' interim manager in 2018 and the tag quickly was removed. Shildt managed the Cardinals through the 2021 campaign and tallied 252 wins to 199 losses and even was named the 2019 National League Manager of the Year.

It sounds like the Padres could make a decision in the near future and Shildt could end up taking over the club. 

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