Padres shockingly name former player as manager and pass on Albert Pujols

San Diego just chose surprise over certainty. In a move that caught the industry flat-footed, the Padres tabbed former reliever Craig Stammen as their next manager, a hire that reads less like a retread and more like a cultural reboot. The timing and the choice matter. After an October exit and a week of whispers that 2026 continuity might win out, the Padres instead bet on a voice who knows their clubhouse rhythms and the organizational wiring from the inside. That makes this both a sharp zig and, if you’ve been paying attention to A.J. Preller’s playbook, a very on-brand zag.

It also resets a narrative that had hardened around Albert Pujols. Plenty inside and outside the game assumed Pujols had the most runway after an exhaustive  9 ½ hour interview that felt like a coronation. When you pour that much time into a sit-down, the natural conclusion is that boxes were checked and a deal was a matter of signatures.

Instead, the Padres pivoted to a different kind of bet: a connector with deep institutional knowledge whose edge comes from relationships, credibility in a veteran room, and a front-row seat to the franchise’s high-ceiling, high-variance seasons.

Padres name Craig Stammen manager, passing on Albert Pujols

The club made it official with a three-year deal for Stammen, first reported by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and then announced by the team.

“Craig has been a strong presence in our organization for nearly a decade,” president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said in the release. “He possesses deep organizational knowledge and brings natural leadership qualities to the Manager’s chair. As both a player and in his post-playing career, Craig has displayed an ability to elevate those around him. His strength of character, competitive nature and talent for bringing people together make him the ideal choice to lead the Padres.”

It’s the latest out-of-the-blue turn for San Diego. Not long after the postseason, early indications were that Mike Shildt would return for 2026. Days later, he stepped down, with reporting pointing to frayed relationships inside the building. That left the Padres staring down a choice: play it safe with a star name and a clean narrative, or choose the fit that best addresses the internal frictions that surfaced in 2025. They chose the latter — handing the job to Stammen, who pitched for the Padres from 2017 to 2022 and knows the organization’s wiring firsthand.

Passing on Pujols will reverberate beyond headlines. Inside the clubhouse, a Stammen hire signals emphasis on alignment — players to staff, staff to front office. Around the league, it signals that San Diego is prioritizing day-to-day connective tissue over celebrity wattage. And in the interview room, it raises a simple takeaway: that marathon meeting with Pujols wasn’t window dressing; it was due diligence that clarified what the Padres wanted most.

There’s also a very real ripple effect coming for the current coaching staff. A first-time manager typically blends holdovers with hand-picked voices he trusts, and Stammen’s credibility with pitchers and veteran position players alike could influence who stays in key roles, which lieutenants get elevated, and where fresh perspectives are injected.

This choice also reframes expectations for spring. Stammen inherits a roster with star power, a fan base that expects October, and a front office unafraid of sharp turns. His edge isn’t in slogans; it’s in credibility. Players will know he’s worn the uniform here, eaten the tough innings, and understands what Petco feels like when the air gets thin in late innings. That matters over a full season.

The Padres didn’t chase the splashiest headline, they hired for the room. Pujols’ candidacy was serious enough to convince many it was a sure thing, but San Diego’s decision underscores a different priority: alignment and daily gain over marquee optics.