Padres name Craig Stammen as manager on three-year contract

The San Diego Padres announced Thursday they have hired former reliever Craig Stammen as their new manager, signing him to a three-year contract and scheduling an introductory press conference at Petco Park on Monday at 10 a.m. Stammen, 41, spent six seasons with the Padres as a player and has spent the past two years in the organization’s player development department.

Stammen brings deep familiarity with the club but no prior managerial experience at the major league or professional minor-league level. He pitched in the majors for 12 seasons, spending 2009–2015 with the Washington Nationals before joining San Diego from 2017–2022. In 333 appearances with the Padres he posted a 3.36 ERA and a 3.66 ERA for his career. After retiring, he worked as a special assistant, mentoring young pitchers and splitting time between big-league and minor-league operations.

Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller framed the hire as one of continuity. In a statement released by the team, Preller said, “Craig has been a strong presence in our organization for nearly a decade. He possesses deep organizational knowledge and brings natural leadership qualities to the...