The San Diego Padres have a new head coach for the 2026 season, and if you ask Dodgers head coach Dave Roberts, it seems like that might lower the temperature of the rivalry between the two teams a little.
As pitchers and catchers began covering spring training in Glendale, Arizona on Thursday, Foul Zone’s Marty Caswell noted that Roberts “has had conflicts with quite a few Padres managers” and asked if he wanted that to continue.
Roberts said he doesn’t think that will happen with Craig Staman.
January 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) answers questions during a press conference at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
“I’m not going to clash with Stamen,” Roberts said. “No way. I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Don’t think it’s going to happen.”
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Dave Roberts has long history with Padres
Caswell pointed to Roberts’ previous run-ins with the Padres, the most prominent of which may have occurred in June.
On June 17, 2025, Roberts was ejected from a game against the Padres after being hit in the leg by Shohei Ohtani’s fastball.
The hitter came in the inning after Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit, and Roberts confronted the umpire after warning both teams.
Three days later, Ohtani and Tatis were attacked again, causing the bench to be cleared.
That night, Roberts got into an argument with now-former Padres manager Mike Shildt, who later seemed to admit that Ohtani was hit in retaliation for the pitch that hit Tatis.
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Southern California competition to remain ‘competitive’ this year
Despite friction with his predecessor, Roberts expressed praise for Stamen, noting that his San Diego counterpart was well regarded in baseball circles despite his lack of managerial experience.
Staman spent the final six years of his career with the Padres, prompting the San Diego Union-Tribune to call the move “outside the organization, but from within.”
“I’m surprised that he hasn’t coached before, but not surprised by the respect he has with the club, the game and familiarity with the organization. Great hire,” Roberts said.
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Stamen promised the Padres would compete with the Dodgers, whom he called a “great team.”
“We’re going to compete,” Stamann told Foul Territory earlier this year. “There’s no question about it. We’re going to give them the best chance. That’s what we do every year, that’s what we do every year.
