Former Padres Manager Bob Melvin Credits A.J. Preller For Remaking Team in Offseason

Eva Geitheim | Apr 1, 2024

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Former San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin began the regular season by facing his former team. Melvin, who departed the Padres after the 2023 season to take the job as the San Francisco Giants manager, went 2-2 against the Padres to open the 2024 MLB season.

Despite opting to leave the Padres on his own terms, Melvin was complimentary of his old team after the series. In particular, Melvin gave credit to Padres general manager A.J. Preller for how the organization has re-built the team this offseason after he left.

“It’s a ready-made team over there,” Melvin said, via Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “ … It’s a really good team, and A.J. (Preller) did a great job in turning this thing over, to having to reduce payroll, bringing in the arms that he did, incorporating some of the younger players in the system."

While the Padres' offseason looked bleak after losing key pieces like Melvin, Juan Soto, Josh Hader and Blake Snell this offseason, they managed to bring in some key players like Michael King and Dylan Cease to offset their losses.

In addition, San Diego has worked on building internally. When Melvin left, the Padres replaced him with player development coach Mike Shildt. Padres' outfielder Jackson Merrill has already become the team's starting center fielder before even turning 21 years old.

All in all, the Padres have moved on since Melvin left. Though they parted ways with several of their most talented players, they have put together a roster that has started the year overall on a good note. While they are 3-3, they've outscored the Dodgers and Giants — two of their toughest division rivals — 45-41 in those games.