Padres should weigh 3 cautionary tales from recent MLB manager searches

The San Diego Padres are once again on the hunt for a new manager in 2025. They would be wise to take their time and make sure they make the right call. Here are three cautionary tales that San Diego could learn from before making their choice.

Three cautionary examples Padres should weigh before choosing a manager

Giants hire Bob Melvin, 2023

At face value, this move did not look like an awful decision. Melvin took San Diego deep into the postseason in 2022, and while the Padres underperformed in 2023, they still posted a winning record. And Melvin was a manager with a history of winning big games. He had taken the Athletics to plenty of success in the Bay Area, and a return felt natural.

Unfortunately, Melvin was past his prime. The Giants followed up with two mediocre seasons, and they fired Melvin after the 2025 campaign fell a few wins short of the playoffs. The Padres should learn a lesson, and stay away from older coaches who look like they are declining.

Angels hire Ron Washington, 2023

The Angels hired a 72-year-old Washington, ten years after he was fired from the Texas Rangers in 2014. He had spent some time as the Braves' third-base coach, but hiring a 72-year-old coach who had not managed a team in a decade made no sense for the Angels. The move, obviously, did not pay off, and the Angels find themselves once again looking for a new head coach.

Mariners fire Scott Servais, hire Dan Wilson, 2024

The lesson to be learned here is not in who Seattle hired, but rather, who they fired. Seattle moved off Scott Servais, a solid manager who had guided the team to five winning seasons but only one playoff appearance and two playoff wins.

In their first year with new manager Dan Wilson, they are in the ALCS and are cruising.

Servais will be a tempting choice for the Padres. He's already in the organization as an assistant coach, and he has plenty of experience coaching at the big league level. The Padres should learn from the Mariners, however, and stay away from Servais as their next manager.