Mike Shildt is out in San Diego. The 57-year-old veteran manager informed the Padres on Monday that he would be retiring ahead of the 2026 season despite being invited back to helm the club alongside president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. Shildt cited “a toll on his health” as a reason for his abrupt retreat. It’s a shocking development for San Diego, which is coming off consecutive postseason appearances — both under Shildt’s leadership. The Padres won 90 games in 2025 before losing in three games to the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round. In 2024, Shildt led the club to a 93-69 record and nearly toppled the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, but ultimately dropped that series in five games. With a new dugout leader now needed for 2026, who could the Padres turn to for Shildt’s replacement? Here are a few potential candidates. Ron Washington This is an intriguing fit. Washington was the Texas Rangers manager while Preller was in their front office during the early 2010s. Therefore, the two have a w
