When Mike Shildt abruptly announced that he would step down as manager of the San Diego Padres , general manager AJ Preller had to quickly begin the hunt for his replacement.

“We wish him the best in his next chapter,” Preller said of Shildt in a statement on Monday. “The search for a new manager of the Padres will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026.”

He might not have to look far. The Padres have multiple candidates already in the organization that would make perfect sense as manager. There are plenty others around Major League Baseball who have San Diego ties, as well.

And while the potential list could stretch a mile long, Preller will want to be deliberate with this next pick. San Diego has made the postseason three of the last four

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