The Padres hired Mike Shildt to be the 23rd manager in franchise history on Tuesday, finalizing a two-year contract with the 55-year-old, who spent the past two seasons as a senior advisor with the club.

Shildt, who had previously managed the Cardinals for parts of four seasons, helmed St. Louis to three postseason appearances while earning the 2019 NL Manager of the Year Award.

“Mike is a proven winner as a manager at the Major League level, and he brings over two decades of experience in professional baseball to the position,” said Padres general manager A.J. Preller. “In his time here, Mike has displayed a strong baseball intellect, a passion for teaching the game, and has established relationships with players and staff at both the minor and Major League levels. We believe that Mike is the right person to lead the Padres forward in our continued pursuit of a World Series championship.”

Shildt’s arrival as Padres skipper marks his second stint as a big league manager, though he’s spent the past two decades coaching at various levels.

Shildt’s hiring comes less than a month after former San Diego manager Bob Melvin accepted the managerial job in San Francisco, after the Padres permitted him to interview with the Giants.

That started a three-week process in which the Padres interviewed several candidates, including offensive coordinator/hitting coach Ryan Flaherty, Angels infield coach Benji Gil and former Angels manager Phil Nevin.

Shildt is tasked with managing a Padres team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2023 season. Despite World Series ambitions, San Diego finished 82-80 and missed the postseason.

The offseason will undoubtedly bring some reshuffling. But the bulk of the Padres’ core is expected to remain intact, particularly on offense. Shildt, having spent the past two seasons with the club, is already familiar with that core.

“We definitely think about that,” Preller said last week. “… People that know our players, know our situation, know our organization — that is an advantage, for sure.”

It remains unclear which coaches will return to Shildt’s staff, though Preller recently confirmed that Ruben Niebla, under contract for the 2024 season, would return as pitching coach.