In the kind of twist that has been a hallmark of A.J. Preller’s tenure as general manager, the San Diego Padres on Thursday announced they had promoted special assistant and former reliever Craig Stammen to manager, filling the vacancy left behind when Mike Shildt resigned last month.
Stammen, 41, received a three-year deal to become a rookie manager for a veteran team and the sixth full-time manager under Preller, whose recently uncertain contract status appears to be coming into focus. Preller has spoken with team chairman John Seidler about a multiyear extension, with club sources indicating the Padres intend to finalize a new deal for their president of baseball operations before or around the time Stammen is formally introduced Monday at Petco Park.
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Preller’s latest choice in a manager was far from unprecedented — the president of baseball operations had previously employed Andy Green and Jayce Tingler as first-time managers — but it still surprised many throughout the industry and more than a few members of the organization.
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