3 best things San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said at the MLB Winter Meetings

NASHVILLE — Inside the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center on Tuesday, San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt continued to carve out his vision for where he wants to see the Friars go in 2024 and beyond.

With the manager's title for less than a month, Shildt took time to talk to the media during Day 2 of the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings. There was plenty to talk about with the Padres, including the future of Juan Soto with the team and the mess that was the 2023 season and how San Diego will move forward.

With that in mind, here are three of the best things I heard Shildt say on Tuesday.

How Mike Shildt views the San Diego Padres in 2024

Again, last season was disappointing in San Diego. Padres fans are well aware of that, and it's one of the reasons why Shildt ascended to the manager role after the departure of Bob Melvin to the San Francisco Giants. But what lies ahead for the Padres? Shildt believes it is all about the foundation that is being set right now within the clubhouse culture.

"The big picture about the meetings with the group so far is continue to be impressed by our leadership of our clubhouse and the quality of people we have and the dedication, desire to work together and be great," Shildt said. "I just can't speak highly enough of the guys we have. Joe Musgrove, Manny. These guys have been amazing to work with, to sit down and talk with, hear their thoughts. They have great ones. Shared opinions and philosophies and looking to partner with that group."

Having Manny Machado's name specifically mentions speaks to the leadership that came into question at times last season. That, however, could be a moot story as 2024 begins, both with Machado recovering from surgery and a new manager as well.

How Mike Shildt will evolve with the San Diego Padres in 2024

Shildt will once again get the chance to manager in 2024 after being cut loose by the St. Louis Cardinals following the 2021 season. While leading St. Louis, the Cardinals posted a 252-199 mark, so it certainly wasn't the on-field results that caused Shildt to be jettisoned. However, the new Padres manager said there is always room for him to improve with the second chance he has been given in southern California.

"I will continue to evolve," Shildt said. "That's how we get here. I think the starting point at the end of that is I need to be comfortable and confident with what I know and continue to be open-minded to what I don't. That's been a strength of mine really my entire career. Otherwise, I don't get here the path I took without that open mindedness and growth mindset.

"Time will tell. Again, I know I'm a better version of myself than I was the last time we played against the (Los Angeles) Dodgers in the Wild Card in '21 (his final game with the Cardinals), which was good. But there was a lot of things that went well that allowed success to have taken place to get the job.

"Again, creating the understanding and openness to realize, 'Okay, what are my blind spots?' and being open to that and hearing hard conversations and being open to create sweet spots."