San Diego Padres Name Former Reliever Craig Stammen as New Manager

The San Diego Padres have hired former reliever Craig Stammen as their new manager, signing him to a three-year contract. This marks Stammen's first managerial role at any level. He retired from playing with the Padres in August 2023 and spent the last two seasons as an assistant to the major league coaching staff and baseball operations. Stammen replaces Mike Shildt, who retired October 13 after two playoff-bound seasons, citing burnout. General Manager A.J. Preller praised Stammen's "deep organizational knowledge" and "natural leadership." The 41-year-old becomes the majors' only former pitcher serving as a manager, having pitched seven seasons for the Nationals and six for the Padres, ranking fifth in Padres history with 333 appearances. His hiring is part of an eventful MLB offseason for managers.