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. And no one making big money has more trade value than Tatis.”

The San Diego Padres have built a roster loaded with long‑term, high‑dollar contracts, yet still have little postseason success to show. Players like Xander Bogaerts (11 years/$280 M) and Manny Machado (11 years/$350 M) anchor the payroll but carry aging concerns and limited trade value. The team was ousted in the 2025 Wild Card round despite boasting one of the largest payrolls in baseball. This clearly showed that big contracts alone haven’t translated to October wins for the Padres.

Into that backdrop comes Fernando Tatis Jr., signed to a 14‑year/$340 M deal and still young and ascending. 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 hopeful peaks followed by postseason heartbreak after heartbreak. As excitement builds each spring, the weight of payroll promises grows heavier when October ends quickly. If high-priced stars keep underperforming, Tatis could become the team’s only leverage. Fans might face a shocking reality with their superstar potentially moving away.

For all the money spent, Padres fans still wait for a postseason triumph that never arrives. With Tatis as the lone superstar carrying hope, his potential exit could rewrite this era. If contracts like Machado and Bogaerts keep underperforming, the San Diego Padres’ “super team” might feel tragically ironic.

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

Some decisions make you raise an eyebrow, then slowly nod in reluctant admiration. 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. Stammen’s long tenure with the Padres and visible belief in their culture strengthen organizational vision and trust in leadership.

His relationships with current players, many former teammates provide immediate clubhouse cohesion and respect from the roster. The organization values Stammen’s baseball intelligence, developed over nine seasons, as a foundation for managerial acumen. Surrounding him with experienced coaches like Ruben Niebla and Ben Fritz helps mitigate risks associated with first-time managers. With a roster built to compete now, the Padres aim to translate stability and familiarity into sustained postseason performance.

Craig Stammen’s promotion proves the Padres value continuity over flashy, headline-grabbing managerial experiments. Fans can feel the pulse of a clubhouse already buzzing with familiarity and quiet respect for leadership. If this gamble succeeds, the Padres might just teach baseball that loyalty sometimes outshines fame.