This is not how it can end, can it? The San Diego Padres have made the postseason four times in the last 6 years, but have never gotten to the World Series since 1998. And with a super team now, they have failed in the postseason consistently, and now they might be seeing the end of an era, with a new coach taking control. Now, coming to my question, no Padres fan will want this, but Fernando Tatis Jr. might be leaving the Padres.

In a recent piece by Bob Nightengale, he wrote about who might be on the trade block for some of the teams, and for the Padres, it was Tatis. Nightengale wrote, “They certainly don’t want to trade him, and still may not listen now, but with all of their bloated and back-loaded contracts, someone is going to eventually have to depart.” He also believes that Tatis is the most trad value than any other top star.

Despite the San Diego Padres have a loaded roster with long‑term, big-money contracts, they haven’t seen much success this postseason. Stars like Xander Bogaerts (11 years/$280 million) and Manny Machado (11 years/$350 million) anchor the payroll but still the team was ousted in the 2025 Wild Card round. It was clearly evident that big contracts alone haven’t translated to October wins for the Padres.

The young and talented Fernando Tatis Jr., is signed to a 14‑year contract worth $340 million. He remains one of the few contracts on the books that a trade‑market team might still bite on while taking on fewer years and lower risk. The Padres may not be listening now, but with back‑loaded deals and limited flexibility, the calculus could eventually shift in his direction.

The emotional reality for fans has been left with nothing but disappointment this postseason. If high-priced stars continue to underperform, Tatis could become the team’s only leverage.

For all the money spent, Padres fans still wait for a postseason triumph. With Tatis as the lone superstar carrying hope, his potential exit could rewrite this era.

A new era started with the Padres hiring Craig Stammen, and it makes sense

The Padres just made one of those calls, picking a man who spent more time in the bullpen than the boardroom to steer their ship. Craig Stammen isn’t your usual headline-grabbing hire, but his deep roots in the organization and uncanny knack for knowing the team inside out suggest this gamble might just pay off.

The San Diego Padres enter a new managerial chapter after consecutive 90-win seasons, signaling continuity. Craig Stammen’s deep familiarity with the roster, front office, and team processes reduces adjustment challenges substantially. His experience as a special assistant since 2023 included player development and high-level Draft and Trade Deadline contributions.

His relationships with current players, many former teammates, provide immediate clubhouse cohesion and respect from the roster. The organization values Stammen who has managed the Padres for over nine seasons. Surrounding him with experienced coaches like Ruben Niebla and Ben Fritz helps mitigate risks associated with first-time managers.

Craig Stammen’s promotion proves the Padres value continuity over flashy, headline-grabbing managerial experiments. Do you see a better 2026 for the Padres?