Dodgers fans can't help but laugh at Padres' out-of-nowhere managerial decision

The San Diego Padres have a new manager, and no one could have predicted who it would be. It has already been a pretty miserable offseason for the Padres; their fans may have forced their manager to "retire," and the Los Angeles Dodgers lived rent-free in their head while they were watching the World Series from home. Things couldn't get much worse if you're a Padres fan, and yet, AJ Preller had a true "hold my beer" moment in finding his next manager.

The Padres announced that they have hired former bullpen staple, Craig Stammen, as their next manager. Stammen spent the back half of his playing career in San Diego, hanging up his cleats after the 2022 season. He has since been working with Preller in the Padres' front office, and apparently, that makes him a stronger candidate than Albert Pujols — a future MLB Hall of Famer.

Even if the Padres didn't want to hire Pujols, Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty was believed to be a finalist for the position. Unlike Stammen and Pujols, Flaherty is a former player with coaching experience at the major league level. Starting his coaching career with the Padres and spending his last two seasons with Craig Counsell, hiring him felt like a no-brainer. But, again, obvious really isn't Preller's calling card.

The San Diego Padres have a new manager and AJ Preller is steering the team in such an unserious direction.

Nothing against Stammen or his background — he did a commendable job in carving out a career for himself as a relief pitcher — it's just that no one remembers who he was after his playing days were over. While there were plenty of questions about Pujols as a potential manager, Stammen's hire might be the strangest move of the offseason.

It's such an obtuse hire that the first one to report the news was a sports radio host from Kentucky. When the Los Angeles Angels hired Kurt Suzuki, it truly felt like nothing would unseat that move as the strangest hire of the offseason. Leave it to Preller to prove everyone wrong.

Again, Dodgers fans are living on top of the world right now. The Dodgers are fresh off their World Series parade and are already eyeing Kyle Tucker to solidify their effort for a three-peat in 2026. Being obsessed with the Padres isn't something they have time for, but if you're reading this, let's take a collective pause to ask "wtf" of Preller and San Diego.