Former Padre passes on Giants' manager job, raising eyebrows as Friars are in the market for one

It's not every offseason when you see two division rivals each on the hunt for a new manager. It's even less often when those two clubs are both postseason contenders, operating under one identical goal: To beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Both the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants are trying to fill their managerial vacancy following Mike Shildt's sudden retirement and Bob Melvin's firing. Interestingly, the Giants are looking to go against the grain with their next hire following a favored candidate who removed themselves from contention, which opens a window for the Friars.

Former Giant and Padre catcher Nick Hundley was a frontrunner for the Giants' manager role, but he withdrew. It's time for the Padres to pounce on the opportunity.

Padres should continue pursuit of potential hire with Nick Hundley as new manager

Hundley, who played for seven season in San Diego, plus two in San Francisco, is one of the hottest names on the coaching stove this offseason. What can favor the Friars is that Hundley currently lives with his wife and two daughters in San Diego, which was a major reason why he removed himself from the Giants' search.

The 42-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Padres. His first seven years in Major League Baseball were with the Friars, and he hit 47 of his 93 career home runs in a Padres uniform.

The Padres keeping tabs on a young former catcher could be a smart move if the organization decides not to hire from within, whether that's a current coach, or a player with coaching potential.

Catchers always seem to have a sixth sense on the field, playing the role of another coach, sort of like a field general. That understanding of the game, mixed with younger former players understanding and accepting analytics, could make for the perfect manager in San Diego.

As it already is, catchers tend to land manager jobs more often than not. In 2025, six clubs' managers were former big league catchers:

• Bruce Bochy, Texas Rangers

• Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays

• AJ Hinch, Detroit Tigers

• Bob Melvin, San Francisco Giants

• Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians

• Dan Wilson, Seattle Mariners

Could the Padres join the party? It's a practical and low-risk move. Hundley is already settled in this city, so it has all the makings to be a match made in heaven.