The 56-year-old skipper, who guided San Diego to back-to-back 90-win seasons and consecutive playoff appearances, said the grind of managing had taken a “severe toll” on him mentally, physically, and emotionally. In a heartfelt letter released Sunday, Shildt thanked the Padres organization, the late Peter Seidler, and the San Diego community, emphasizing his pride in what the team achieved during his tenure.
“It is with a heavy but full heart that I am announcing my retirement from managing the San Diego Padres,” he wrote. “I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler’s vision of bringing a World Series Championship to San Diego. We fell short of the ultimate goal, but I am proud of what the players, staff and organization were able to accomplish these last two seasons.”
Shildt expressed deep appreciation for his players, calling them “a group that conducts themselves with class” and highlighting their shared pursuit of excellence. “I love our players and will miss them dearly,” he added. “After 34 years of dedicating myself to coaching and managing, I can with great enjoyment look back on achieving my two primary goals: to help players get the most out of their God-given ability and become better men — and to win games.”
What began as a seemingly straightforward retirement announcement from San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt has quickly turned into one of Major League Baseball’s most unsettling offseason storylines. Just days after Shildt, 56, announced he was stepping away from managing to focus on his mental and physical well-being, new reports have painted a far more complicated picture of his exit - one involving burnout, strained staff relationships, and even death threats received during the 2025 season.
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller told reporters Tuesday that Shildt had been the target of death threats in recent months, describing the situation as deeply disturbing and confirming the organization took the matter seriously. Shildt himself acknowledged the mounting toll of the job, saying the “inability to please everyone” and constant stress of managing had finally worn him down. “I made a decision to go home because of this,” Shildt told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “I’m tired of dealing with it.”
However, the story doesn’t end there. According to multiple reports, including one from The New York Post’s Jon Heyman, tensions within the Padres’ coaching staff reached a breaking point late in the season after an alleged verbal incident nearly escalated into a physical altercation. Several former and current staff members described Shildt as an intense and exacting manager with a quick temper and a tendency to micromanage - a management style that reportedly mirrored the dynamic that led to his abrupt firing from the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021. Nearly 20 sources cited by The Union-Tribune characterized him as brilliant yet abrasive, a leader who inspired his players but often clashed with his peers.
Despite the behind-the-scenes turmoil, few dispute Shildt’s success on the field. In five full seasons managing the Cardinals and Padres, he never missed the postseason, posting a 435–340 record and a .561 winning percentage - among the top 20 in baseball history for managers with at least 750 games. His two years in San Diego revitalized a fractured clubhouse, restored unity after the Bob Melvin era, and produced consecutive 90-win playoff campaigns. “We’ve done a lot of winning the last couple of years with Mike as our manager,” Preller said. “Everybody respects that.”
For now, Shildt says he’s at peace with his decision to walk away, forfeiting roughly $4 million from his remaining contract. Though he has expressed interest in someday returning to baseball in a player development role, he described his departure as a necessary act of self-preservation. “I acknowledge and won’t apologize for having high standards,” he told The Union-Tribune. “That standard is very high for me, and I take it very seriously - to the point of burnout.”
The Padres, meanwhile, have begun their search for a new manager while trying to steady a clubhouse shaken by the revelations. Internal candidates are expected to include pitching coach Ruben Niebla, bench coach Brian Esposito, and special assistant A.J. Ellis. Whoever takes over will inherit one of the strongest rosters in franchise history - but also the task of restoring calm after one of the strangest managerial departures baseball has seen in years.The veteran manager leaves behind a legacy of consistent success. Over five full seasons between St. Louis and San Diego, Shildt never failed to reach the postseason, finishing with a 435–340 record and a .561 career winning percentage — one of the top 20 in MLB history among managers with at least 750 games.
Potential internal candidates for the managerial position reportedly include pitching coach Ruben Niebla, bench coach Brian Esposito, baseball operations special assistant A.J. Ellis, and former Padres infielder Mark Loretta. Whoever takes the reins will inherit one of the strongest rosters in franchise history — a core that won 183 games over the past two years, the most ever in a two-season span for San Diego.
Shildt ended his farewell letter by thanking the “Friar Faithful” for their unwavering support, writing, “Keep rocking Petco Park. It’s the best home field advantage in Major League Baseball. The team is on its way to that World Series Championship you so deserve.”
Originally published on October 13, 2025. Updated on October 14, 2025.
