SAN DIEGO — There’s no doubt Padres manager Mike Shildt and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller are in lockstep, beyond the two-year extension that will carry the dugout boss through 2027.

How do we know?

The Zoom call with media Wednesday that announced the deal felt bro-huggy to the point of wondering if a tailgate bash was about to bust out.

“Can’t wait to get back to San Diego and give him another hug and chest bump and (fist) pound,” Preller said from baseball’s annual GM meetings in San Antonio. “Super excited to make this announcement.”

Why does the exuberance matter?

Because Preller never said anything remotely close to that publicly about predecessors Andy Green, Jayce Tingler or Bob Melvin. He never lowered his club operations armor enough to reveal that level of comfort and connection.

They admitted their dust-ups. They admitted making up. They admitted to the cycle repeating, heated at times, always healthy, and pointed toward a bigger horizon.

Lockstep.

“I loved the conversations this year,” Preller said. “Sometimes, some good fights and some good hugs after those fights.”

Shildt agreed.

“It’s not always smooth sailing, but we know we’re working off the same script with the same vision,” he said.

Shildt said he was “miffed” that Preller was not named the MLB Executive of the Year, an honor that went to Brewers GM Matt Arnold.

Preller pointed out that Shildt hardly let the door close on 2024 and the three runs that pushed the National League Championship Series out of reach before shifting to 2025.

The always-on-the-clock GM can relate. That’s important glue.

“This is Mike’s life,” Preller said. “From Day 1, it wasn’t ‘Hey, see you in January.’ "

The proof?

Shildt, without being asked, ticked off a list that left no time for moss to grow on offseason feet. He met with his pitching group on Thursday, development and Triple-A group Thursday and Friday and defense, base running, outfield and catching groups during the weekend. He will meet with the hitters in the coming days.

No shuffling off to Aruba or golfing at Pebble Beach.

On to the next.

“I know we’re set up for success moving forward,” Shildt said.

That happens best when no time is wasted on grudges or old scars. That clearly plagued Preller and Melvin as things off the field ground to a halt.

The big leagues are the ultimate on-to-the-next endeavor with so many chess pieces on the move during a season longer than any other.

When Shildt was asked about his confidence in being able to win in the months and years ahead, what he said about Preller smelled more like confidence than a nudge.

“I’m confident that he’ll continue to do a great job of giving us the resources we need to compete,” Shildt said.

The manager with a new and lengthened leash revealed more breadcrumbs of clubhouse contentment. When Shildt ran into Fernando Tatis Jr. and shelved pitcher Joe Musgrove before the Zoom call, he said they offered hugs.

That may not translate to a rise in runs or defensive outs in 2025, but it can’t hurt.

“This is a group that feels good about what we just accomplished,” Shildt said. “We covered a lot of ground, but (everyone) is very much hungry for more.”

Granted, Shildt is Mr. Optimism. The sun is always shining, from first to third. That’s how he operates.

The fact that Shildt is on the same wavelength with Preller, more often than not, counts as a step toward staying that way. It’s not just a building block, it’s the foundation of a sturdy house.

It’s a start. It’s the kind of start, in fact, you never sense existed between Preller and his other managers.

There are still free agents to chase, pitching decisions to be made and scores of other choices that will drive the success or contribute to the stumbles of Padres in the next three seasons.

The more cement, the better.

“We’re able to have honest dialogues,” Shildt said.

Preller underscored things more.

“He’s somebody I want to partner with for a long time,” he said.

On one hand, that’s what you say in moments like these.

This, though, seemed real.

For the Padres, real is the right place to start.

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