The San Diego Padres are in search of a new manager following the retirement of Mike Shildt. Among their top candidates is future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. Reports indicate that Pujols will interview for the managerial position, although no date has been confirmed for the meeting.
Managerial Aspirations of Albert Pujols
Pujols’s ambitions for a managerial role are not new. He was previously linked to the Los Angeles Angels, considered a favorite to succeed Ron Washington and Ray Montgomery. Pujols was even in discussions with Angels management about a contract just two weeks ago. He is now also slated to interview with the Baltimore Orioles, marking his growing interest in managerial opportunities.
Padres’ Attractive Opportunity
The Padres present a compelling position compared to the Angels and Orioles. They reached the postseason in 2023 but lost to the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card series. Notably, San Diego has made the playoffs four times in the past six seasons and advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2022.
- Recent Performance: 88.5 average wins per season over the last four years.
- Key Players:
- Jackson Merrill
- Manny Machado
- Mason Miller
- Fernando Tatis Jr.
- Nick Pivetta
Despite these strengths, the Padres face challenges ahead. They are expected to lose starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King this offseason, creating uncertainty in their rotation. Additionally, as veteran players like Machado age, the team’s long-term outlook may not be as promising as that of the Orioles, who have a strong base of young talent.
Other Candidates for the Managerial Role
While Pujols is a standout candidate, he is not the only one under consideration. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla is also expected to interview for the position. Another strong contender is Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. Flaherty previously served as bench coach for the Padres and was a finalist for the role before Shildt was hired.
Additionally, former Padres catcher Nick Hundley has shown interest in the position. However, he recently withdrew from consideration for the Giants managerial job due to family reasons, leaving his intentions regarding the Padres role uncertain.
The Padres are keen to finalize their managerial choice soon, hoping to build on their recent success and address the challenges ahead.
