Add the San Diego Padres to the growing list of teams interested in Albert Pujols for a managerial opening.
Pujols is among the candidates whom the Padres will interview for the position, which became vacant after Mike Shildt announced his retirement Oct. 13, sources told Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Shildt retired after two seasons at the helm of the Padres, who have had five different managers since 2016, including three since 2020.
The 45-year-old Pujols has been a popular target of clubs, with the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles already connected to him.
However, Pujols is no longer considered a candidate for the Angels' position after the two sides couldn't get close on contract dollars and years, a source told The Athletic's Sam Blum.
Pujols has never managed in the majors but led Leones del Escogido to a Dominican league championship in January. He was also named manager of the Dominican Republic in the next World Baseball Classic.
