Padres' Shildt retires, cites 'severe toll' of job

Mike Shildt is retiring arsenic San Diego Padres manager with 2 years remaining connected his contract, citing a "severe toll" the occupation has taken connected him mentally and physically.

The 57-year-old Shildt led the Padres to the postseason successful each of the 2 seasons helium managed the franchise. San Diego was eliminated by the Chicago Cubs successful the wild-card circular of the playoffs.

"It is simply a determination that I thought astir during the play and became astatine bid with implicit the past 10 days," Shildt said successful a connection given to the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I gave each fibre of my being to assistance execute Peter Seidler's imaginativeness of bringing a World Series Championship to San Diego.

"We fell abbreviated of the eventual goal, but I americium arrogant of what the players, unit and enactment were capable to execute the past 2 seasons."

Shildt connected Saturday informed the squad helium would retire, 9 days aft the Padres were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs successful the wild-card round, helium told the Union Tribune, adding that helium made the determination connected his ain accord.

"We would similar to congratulate Mike connected a palmy vocation and convey him for his important contributions to the Padres and the San Diego assemblage implicit the past 4 years," Padres wide manager A.J. Preller wrote arsenic portion of a statement.

The Padres finished 90-72 this season, 3 games backmost of the NL West champion Dodgers. Shildt was 183-141 grounds arsenic their manager and 5-5 successful the postseason.

Before succeeding Bob Melvin successful San Diego, Shildt managed the St. Louis Cardinals for 3 afloat seasons aft taking implicit for Mike Matheny during the 2018 season.

"The grind of the shot play has taken a terrible toll connected maine mentally, physically and emotionally," Shildt said successful his statement. "While it has ever been astir serving others, it's clip I instrumentality attraction of myself and exit connected my terms."

"However," helium added, "I americium astir grateful for our players. San Diego is rightfully arrogant of the Padres players. It is simply a radical that conducts themselves with class, is dedicated to each different and the communal extremity of winning a World Series. I emotion our players and volition miss them dearly!!

"After 34 years of dedicating myself to the rigors of coaching and managing, I tin with large enjoyment look backmost connected achieving my 2 superior goals: To assistance players get the astir retired of their God fixed quality and go amended men. Also, to triumph games."

Information from ESPN's Alden Gonzalez was utilized successful this report.