Ryan Flaherty Named Potential Candidate for Padres Manager Job

Padres manager Mike Shildt retired on Sunday, mentioning in his farewell letter that he wanted to make sure he left baseball on good terms. He still had two years left on his contract, but years of grinding it out in St. Louis and San Diego proved to be costly.

“The grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically, and emotionally,” Schildt said. “While it has always been about serving others, it’s time I take care of myself and exit on my terms.”

Schildt’s departure opens up yet another managerial job in a market that will have several moving parts this offseason. Bob Nightengale mentioned Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty as a possible option, connecting the current Cub with his former employer. Other candidates named were Phil Nevin, AJ Ellis, Scott Servais, and even Bruce Bochy.

Flaherty served as the Padres’ bench coach from 2020-23 before leaving to join Craig Counsell in Chicago. He’s been with the Cubs for two years, but taking a promotion to head back to the West Coast would be an extremely attractive option. If the Padres were to offer him the job, it would make sense for Flaherty to accept.

Although we may not find out more information until after the playoffs are over, naming some possibilities Flaherty’s replacement could be a fun thought exercise. Anthony Rizzo recently became an ambassador for the team, but it doesn’t seem as though he wants to get into coaching so soon after the birth of his son.

Kyle Hendricks is expected to announce his retirement soon, adding another intriguing name to watch as the Cubs prepare to hire coaches for the 2026 campaign. While it’s more likely Counsell will opt for a more experienced coach rather than bringing in a former icon, there’s nothing wrong with finding ways to entertain ourselves now that the Cubs are out of it.