Padres Tab Former Pitcher Craig Stammen as New Manager, facing Immediate Challenges
The san Diego Padres have named Craig Stammen as their new manager, a surprising choice that reflects a desire for continuity while acknowledging the need for enhancement within the association. The decision comes after a thorough search process, evaluating both internal and external candidates, and signals a shift as the Padres aim to translate recent playoff appearances into a World Series championship.
The Padres considered a diverse pool of candidates, including pitching coach Ruben Niebla, bench coach Brian Esposito, special assistant Mark Loretta, Texas Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, baseball legend Albert Pujols, Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, and former Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. Stammen initially assisted in the interview process before emerging as a candidate himself, ultimately impressing club officials – including President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller, CEO Erik Greupner, and assistant general Manager Josh Stein – with his blend of traditional baseball knowledge and analytical understanding.
While highly-regarded coach Pat Murphy was initially considered a frontrunner, he ultimately withdrew from consideration. Stammen’s appointment was viewed by many as accelerated, given his lack of managerial experience, but team personnel noted his potential for leadership.
The Padres face notable hurdles in their pursuit of a title. Despite boasting a core featuring stars Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and joe Musgrove, the team’s competitive window may be closing. Financial constraints, stemming from multiple nine-figure contracts – including that of veteran pitcher Yu Darvish, who recently underwent season-ending elbow surgery – limit roster adaptability.
Addressing the starting pitching depth is paramount for Stammen’s success. Fortunately, he will have experienced support. Niebla, who was a strong contender for the managerial role, remains under contract for the next two years. Bullpen coach Ben Fritz also recently signed a lucrative extension and is expected to stay with the team through 2026.
However,the Padres are experiencing changes on the offensive side. Hitting coach Victor Rodriguez has departed to join the Houston Astros, and third-base coach Tim Leiper is expected to take a similar position with the New York Mets. These departures highlight a potential need for a coach who can effectively connect with the team’s Latin American players, particularly Machado and Tatis. Given Stammen’s inexperience, the Padres are likely to prioritize hiring a bench coach with prior big-league managerial experience.
Preller emphasized the importance of building upon the team’s recent successes. “There’s a lot of good that’s been in place…Craig’s aware of that, has been part of that, has seen that,” he stated. “The whole point of this process is how do we take this to the next level?”
Stammen’s hiring has been met with a mix of excitement and surprise throughout baseball.While he possesses more big-league experience than fellow rookie manager Tony Vitello of the San Francisco Giants, both face the daunting task of competing against the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the competitive National League West.
(Brittany Ghiroli of *The Athletic contributed to this report.)*
