Minors: Mike Shildt joins Padres as consultant; Daniel Camarena returns on minor league deal

Mike Shildt was among the candidates President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller interviewed for the managerial job that went to Bob Melvin.

Preller still liked what Shildt has to offer the organization.

The 53-year-old Shildt, the NL Manager of the Year in 2019, is joining the Padres as a player development consultant after managing the St. Louis Cardinals the past four years. He went 252-199, won the NL Central in 2019 and took St. Louis to the postseason the last three years, including in 2020 when the Padres ousted the Cardinals.

St. Louis won 90 games in 2021 but was fired by Cardinals President John Mozeliak over “philosophical differences” with the coaching staff and the front office.

It was reported in December that Shildt had been readying to take a job in the commissioner’s office.

His hiring in San Diego was announced among several additions to the Padres’ player development department, including former amateur scouting director Mark Conner, now a special assistant to Preller, adding minor league field coordinator to his duties.

Chris Kemp had been the minor league field coordinator before he was asked to oversee both domestic and international amateur scouting.

Other positions announced include Oscar Bernard and Mike McCoy as minor league hitting coordinators, Ryan Barba joining the organization as a minor league infield coordinator, Lukas Ray serving as the manager in the Arizona Complex League and Luis Mendez managing in the Dominican Summer League. Former Padres prospect Ruddy Giron, who last played in 2019, is also joining the DSL Padres as a bench coach.

Camarena returns on minor league deal

Daniel Camarena, as a reliever, provided a highlight in a disappointing Padres season when he hit a grand slam off future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer.

The Cathedral Catholic High product is hoping to run it back in 2022 with his hometown team.

Cut loose after the season, the 29-year-old Camarena has agreed to a minor league deal with the Padres.

The left-handed Camarena appeared in six games with the Padres (9 1/3 IP, 10 ERA), but spent most of 2021 at Triple-A El Paso, where he was 6-7 with a 4.75 ERA, 62 strikeouts and a 1.37 WHIP across 83 1/3 innings.

The grand slam heard ‘round the world arrived on July 8 when he was left in to hit against Scherzer despite allowing two runs in the fourth inning in relief to push the Nationals’ lead to 8-0.

Camarena’s grand slam helped spur a 9-8 comeback win.

Camarena was outrighted off the 40-man roster after the season and became a minor league free agent before re-upping with the Padres.

MINOR LEAGUE TRANSACTIONS TRACKER

SIGNED FOR 2022 (2021 organization)

• C: Webster Rivas (Padres)
• 2B: C.J. Hinojosa (Astros), Domingo Leyba (Orioles)
• 3B: Aderlin Rodriguez (Tigers)
• OF: Oliver Carrillo (amateur), Luis Liberato (Mariners), Nomar Mazara (Tigers), Thomas Milone (Yankees)
• RHP: Jordan Brink (Rays), Aaron Brooks (KBO), Angel Felipe (Rays), Heath Fillmyer (Indians), Luis Madrazo (N/A), Matt Swilley (N/A)
• LHP: Daniel Camarena (Padres), Jose Castillo (Padres), Luke Westphal (Padres)

DEPARTING (New team)

• C: Kyle Overstreet, Webster Rivas (Padres), Wynston Sawyer
• 2B: Ivan Castillo (Royals), Gosuke Katoh (Blue Jays)
• SS: Pedro Florimon
• OF: John Andreoli, Allen Cordoba (Reds), Patrick Kivlehan, Brian O’Grady (NPB)
• RHP: Miguel Diaz, Jordan Humprheys, Alex Powers, Austin Smith, Tyler Viza
• LHP: Joe Beimel, Daniel Camarena (Padres), Brady Feigl, Jerry Keel, James Reeves, Luke Westphal (Padres)