Recent developments in San Diego have Padre fans in a state of shock

It was bad enough that the San Diego Padres were ousted by the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 2025 NL Wild Card series, making it two consecutive years that the club suffered an early exit in the post season. Even though the Cubbies enjoyed home field advantage, I would have bet the last dollar in my wallet that the Padres would emerge victorious. Craig Counsell couldn’t even beat his old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, in the mediocre NL Central. It was a bitter pill for Padres skipper Mike Shildt to swallow, and a week later, the seemingly mild-mannered manager turned in his resignation with a pair of seasons left on his contract. Shildt cited that the pressures of running a major league team affected his health, and nothing in life is more important.

The unexpected announcement came at a difficult time for GM A.J. Preller, already faced with the task of probably replacing the club’s top pair of starting pitchers, Dylan Cease and Michael King, via free agency. Not only that, the Padres number three starter Yu Darvish, 39, will miss the entire 2026 season after recently undergoing UCL brace surgery. The Japanese veteran was only semi-healthy in 2025, making only 15 starts, and is signed through the next three seasons. Local product Joe Musgrove, who missed all of last year in rehab following a Tommy John procedure, will be ready to go next spring. And Nick Pivetta, the ex-Red Sox journeyman, has been a huge surprise. Still, there is potentially three slots in the rotation that need to be filled at a time when the Friars are financially vulnerable. That issue brings me to my next staggering news, which is the topic of concern among fans in the San Diego community.

Last week in a letter to the media and Padre season ticket holders, chairman John Seidler announced that offers would be entertained to sell the team. MLB owners sided with Seidler after the untimely death of his brother Peter Seidler, in majority control of the organization. John Seidler had been involved in a lawsuit with Peter’s widow Sheel, an Indian-American woman, that had become somewhat nasty. Peter, a wealthy grandson of former Los Angeles Dodger owner Walter O’Malley, bought the Padres in 2012 with a promise to eventually bring a world championship to the border city. But expensive contracts to Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr, Xander Bogaerts, Darvish, Musgrove and prior signings have presented a complicated financial outlook for the organization moving forward. However, John Seidler has assured the Padre faithful that any potential sale would be contingent on the club remaining in San Diego. Petco Park offers one of baseball’s finest facilities, and nearly all home games attract sellout crowds. That said, the lack of a lucrative cable television deal have put the medium market Friars at a disadvantage when compared to the big brother Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.

“The family has decided to begin the process of evaluating our future with the Padres, including the potential sale of the franchise,” John Seidler announced. “We will undertake this process with integrity and professionalism in a way that honors Peter’s legacy and love for the Padres.”

With this in mind and recognizing the team’s financial shortcomings, GM Preller made a decision to hire the club’s former longtime relief pitcher Craig Stammen, 41, as the choice to replace Shildt. Although he has never managed at any level, Stammen has quietly been prepared by Preller for a possible promotion the last two seasons as a front office assistant. While the move is economically driven, the new skipper was given a three year pact as a vote of confidence. Also, pitching coach Ruben Niebla, who interviewed for the main job, will remain as Stammen’s right hand guy in numerous chores. It can’t be ignored though, that Preller has had a frequent turnover in dugout personnel, and that in itself is a huge problem.

In addition to the starting pitching issues, closer Robert Suarez will also explore the free agent market. I wish the Venezuelan all the best, but his salary dump will be a positive factor now that flame-throwing Mason Miller is in the fold. I worry more about the Padres inability to score runs in regularity. Will they try to resign Luis Arraez, who had a difficult season in 2025 by his standards. And who will back up Freddy Fermin behind the plate on off days? Prime prospect Ethan Salas, with his bad back, seems light years away.

Despite all their problems, nobody is giving up on the San Diego Padres. This team remains deep in talent and continued potential. Everything is going to be alright. It’s simply a matter of continued patience.

The post Recent developments in San Diego have Padre fans in a state of shock first appeared on Through The Fence Baseball.