Padres name Craig Stammen new skipper despite no managerial experience

The San Diego Padres on Thursday announced the hiring of their 22nd manager, naming former big-league reliever Craig Stammen as their next skipper. The 41-year-old, who signed a three-year deal, has no managerial experience. He replaces Mike Shildt, who recently retired.

Stammen takes over a Padres team firmly in win-now mode — but one facing major offseason challenges. San Diego has 10 free agents, including starters Dylan Cease and Michael King and closer Robert Suarez. Suarez opted out of the final two years of his $16 million contract, while King declined his side of a mutual option.

A former pitcher with 13 years of MLB experience, Stammen has a background that should serve him well in guiding one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. The Padres ranked sixth in the majors with a 3.72 ERA from their starters and first with a 3.06 bullpen ERA in 2025. 

Even with Suarez departing, San Diego still boasts elite arms — most notably right-hander Mason Miller, acquired at last season’s trade deadline from the Athletics. Miller was dominant in the 2025 NL wild-card round, striking out eight in 2.2 scoreless innings over two appearances, though the Padres ultimately fell in three games.

Over his 13-year career, Stammen posted a 55-44 record and 3.66 ERA in 562 games, spending his final six seasons in San Diego (2017–22). In announcing Stammen as manager, Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller called him “a strong presence in our organization for nearly a decade."