(San Diego) Manager Bob Melvin’s position appears secure despite the San Diego Padres’ disappointing season.
At least that’s what comes from the statement released on Monday morning by the team’s owner, Peter Seidler, in which he guarantees that the club’s current management “still has my support”.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after the Padres had one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, going 82-80. They were eliminated on Friday night; a hard result to swallow for a team that entered the campaign among the favorites to win the World Series after reaching the National League Championship Series last fall. The Padres then increased their payroll to nearly $250 million, the third highest in the major leagues, in hopes of having a long playoff run.
Many persistent rumors point to a strained relationship between Melvin, who just completed his second season in charge of the Padres and his 20th.It is in a Major League manager position, and general manager AJ Preller, who has just two full-season winning records in Major League Baseball since his hiring in August 2014.
“We entered 2023 wanting to expand our participation in last year’s National Championship Series and hoping to participate in the World Series,” Seidler admitted in his press release. We failed. The Padres organization will learn from this experience and enter 2024 adding elements that could allow the team to compete for its first World Series title.
“Our leadership group continues to have my support and I have asked them to conduct an in-depth review of our organization, starting today. We will make the necessary changes to be one of the best teams in 2024”, he concluded.
Seidler, who recently underwent surgery for an undetermined medical condition, was unable to provide further comment. Melvin and Preller also remained silent.