Former Padres All-Star Was Finalist For Friars Managerial Job Before Mike Shildt Hiring

Didn't see this coming!

The San Diego Padres ended their long search to replace former manager Bob Melvin, hiring Mike Shildt as their new manager. The new wanted to hire someone in-house if possible and they got their wish.

But it seems that the team interviewed someone that nobody expected, former All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Gonzalez was a finalist for the job, but the team went with the more experienced Shildt to lead this team.

"The Padres also interviewed Ryan Flaherty, a coach with them since 2020; former Angels infield coach Benji Gil; former Angels manager and Padres slugger Phil Nevin; former Padres first baseman Adrián González; and former Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza, who earlier this month was hired as Mets manager."

Per Kevin Acee of The SD Union-Tribune

Gonzalez is a surprising addition to the candidate list, but the fact that he made it as a finalist means the team was serious about him. He still resides in San Diego and has stayed connected to the game, making him an intriguing option for the Padres.

They likely wanted Shildt since he has managed a team before and the window to win with their core isn't very large. But Gonzalez could see his name pop back up around the league now.

He could even still land with the Padres since they only gave Shildt a two-year contract. The former first baseman has been known for his knowledge of the game and he was always a clubhouse favorite of his teammates.

Gonzalez joined the Padres organization in 2006 and quickly rose to be a fan favorite. He was with the team until after the 2010 season when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. But he did make the All-Star team three straight years with the Friars, from 2008-2010.

Hopefully, this means that we get to see Gonzalez around the Friars more often. And maybe he can take a bench role with the team to gain some experience if he does want to manage down the line.