The San Diego Padres have wrapped up their managerial search and will hire the Oakland Athletics’ Bob Melvin to helm their dugout moving forward. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Melvin accepted the offer from Padres on Thursday and has inked a three-year contract. The deal reportedly guarantees him $12 million through the 2024 season.
Despite being under contract with the A’s until 2022, Melvin will leave the franchise without compensation after San Diego was granted permission to interview him.
The Padres were looking for a new manager after a disappointing 2021 campaign under Jayce Tingler. Despite having what is considered one of the most talented rosters in MLB, San Diego finished the season with a 79-83 record and ended up missing the playoffs.
Bob Melvin is widely considered to be one of the best managers in baseball in recent years. Since taking over Oakland in 2011, he won three AL West titles, made the playoffs six times, won the Manager of the Year award twice, and set the franchise record with 853 wins. The 60-year-old did all of this despite his team repeatedly having the lowest payroll in the division.
Melvin, who spent 10 years in MLB playing as a catcher for seven different franchises, previously also managed the Seattle Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He only had one postseason trip during these two stints, leading the Diamondbacks to an NL Championship Series appearance in 2007.
