Mike Shildt’s surprise departure from the Padres was announced as a “retirement,” and team personnel are insisting it was Shildt’s call to exit after feeling “worn down.” However, it was hard to see him lasting in that role considering his very poor relationship with some of his coaches.

Sources suggest one of the coaches was recently so upset after feeling insulted by Shildt that a fight nearly broke out. Shildt gained a rep as blunt and temperamental in St. Louis, where he was fired after an excellent season. In St. Louis, the feeling was he didn’t treat the support staff appropriately. So the situation is somewhat similar.

Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, also drawing interest from Baltimore, is a favorite. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla is “like a god” in San Diego, but pitching coaches rarely are elevated. A.J. Ellis, a former catcher and current special assistant to San Diego general manager A.J. Preller, is a possibility.

Nick Hundley, assistant to the GM in Texas, is yet another candidate in San Diego.