Headlines

  • Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury
  • Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin
  • Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib
  • Tucker Barnhart To Retire
  • Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline
  • Reds Release Jeimer Candelario
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Padres’ Third Base Coach Matt Williams Taking Leave Of Absence After Colon Cancer Diagnosis

By Anthony Franco | March 29, 2023 at 11:11pm CDT

Padres third base coach Matt Williams will step away from the team for an undetermined amount of time following tomorrow’s Opening Day festivities. Skipper Bob Melvin informed reporters (including Alden González of ESPN) on Wednesday that Williams was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. He’ll undergo surgery to address the issue on Friday.

Williams said he was first made aware of the issue a few weeks ago after a standard physical turned up a low red blood cell count. Fortunately, the 57-year-old indicated he’s feeling well physically. “I don’t have any symptoms, I don’t have any issues,” Williams told reporters. “At this point it’s important now to get it out of there. That’s the plan for Friday, and we’ll see how it goes from there. They’ll test, and they’ll do all the pathology and all of that at that point. But the initial scans were positive in that on the initial CT scan they didn’t see any spread anywhere else. That’s a good thing. We’ll see where it goes from there.”

A five-time All-Star during his playing days, Williams has spent the better part of the last decade in the coaching ranks. He managed for the Nationals for two seasons in 2014-15, securing the NL’s Manager of the Year award in his first campaign. Williams later spent time on the A’s coaching staff and followed Melvin to San Diego over the 2021-22 offseason. He’s headed into his second season with the Friars.

Former Cardinals’ manager and current senior advisor Mike Shildt will take over third base coaching duties on an interim basis. MLBTR sends our best wishes to Williams and his family on his recovery.

Share 0 Retweet 10 Send via email0

San Diego Padres Matt Williams Mike Shildt

White Sox Notes: Hendriks, Right Field, Colas, Garcia
Main
Athletics Trade Cristian Pache To Phillies
View Comments (21)
Post a Comment

21 Comments

  1. LordD99

    2 years ago

    Sounds like they might have caught it early. High cure rate if so.

    20
    Reply
    • ekrog

      2 years ago

      Yep. Get your colonoscopy starting at age 45 folks. I was stage 2 at age 49. Doc said the mass was growing for over 5 years.

      10
      Reply
      • touch_the_floor

        2 years ago

        Literally in waiting room now before my annual. Early detection is key.

        2
        Reply
    • ekrog

      2 years ago

      Get your colonoscopy folks. I was stage 2 at age 49. Doc said it was growing for over 5 years.

      Reply
  2. Bird Dog

    2 years ago

    Wishing you a healthy and speedy recovery Mr. Williams. Godspeed.

    10
    Reply
  3. Hired Gun 23

    2 years ago

    Fight the good fight, MW!!!

    9
    Reply
    • GmanGoon

      2 years ago

      HG. Couldn’t agree more! Fight Sir, fight!!
      Godspeed!

      4
      Reply
  4. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    2 years ago

    Godspeed and quick recovery Matt. And dudes if you’re 45+ and haven’t had a colonoscopy yet to check for pre-cancerous problem areas, think about scheduling one. Catching colon cancer earlier the better.

    13
    Reply
  5. redhaze1

    2 years ago

    Strength and comfort for Matt Williams.

    6
    Reply
  6. redsoxu571

    2 years ago

    Colon cancer killed my father, who unfortunately didn’t stay on top of colonoscopies due to a long run of good health. He felt great until the day some symptoms popped up, and when he was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer we knew the odds were against him. I’m glad that it sounds as if they caught the cancer in Williams before it advanced to a tougher-to-treat stage.

    Everyone, get your colonoscopies regularly and as recommended. If you have no real family history, still consider one as young as age 45 given the significant rise in instances of advanced colon cancer in people of younger ages. And if you have a family history, don’t wait – the advice is to get your first one at age 35 and then to get one every 5 years, in that case. It’s a minor inconvenience with a gigantic payout if anything is found!

    15
    Reply
    • bigeasye

      2 years ago

      Man. That’s eerily similar to my situation with my father. I’m happy this was caught soon before it’s too late.

      3
      Reply
  7. CC Ryder

    2 years ago

    Fight the fight Matt, our thoughts and prayers are with you

    8
    Reply
  8. giantwarrioras49ersraiders

    2 years ago

    Godspeed prayers!!!

    5
    Reply
  9. Dorothy_Mantooth

    2 years ago

    Best wishes Matt! Sounds like you caught it early enough to prevent it from spreading, which is super important. Hoping they can get all of it out with surgery and that you have a speedy and full recovery!

    5
    Reply
  10. Non Roster Invitee

    2 years ago

    Would’ve broke the HR record in ’94 if not for the strike.
    Get well soon!

    3
    Reply
  11. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    2 years ago

    My aunt died of it and simply never got it checked up on and if she had regular check up’s, they think they’d have caught it early enough to save her.

    Everybody get checked. Rates are going up in people as young as late 20’s.

    I think everybody 30 and up should get an annual one, even if it seems a bit early. It’s never too early.

    6
    Reply
  12. JoeJackson4HOF

    2 years ago

    Get well soon, Matty!

    5
    Reply
  13. rememberthecoop

    2 years ago

    I hate to mention this, but I hope his steroid use didn’t have anything to do with this. I know how common it is in men, and I support the comments here to get tested regularly, everyone, and I hope for the best for Matt.

    1
    Reply
  14. williemaysfield

    2 years ago

    While I agree getting checked is important there’s a lot we can do regarding prevention.
    A 2022 review of 49 studies including more than 3 million people found that plant-based diets were protective against all digestive system cancers, including colon cancer. The more plant food you eat the lower the risk. Eat your veggies.

    1
    Reply
  15. MetsRTrash

    2 years ago

    My wife got a stage 4 diagnosis a year ago at age 46. She’s fighting the good fight, but the treatment is TOUGH. We’re hoping for better days soon, but it’s definitely a lesson for all of us to get checked annually, whether via colonoscopy or the stool scrape. Above all, listen to your body. Many times, there won’t be symptoms, but often, there are. Pay attention!

    1
    Reply
  16. dclivejazz

    2 years ago

    Best of luck to Matt Williams at beating this cancer! Our thoughts are with you.

    2
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury

    Mariners Looking For Corner Infield Bats; Ownership Willing To Bump Payroll

    Wander Franco Found Guilty Of Sexual Abuse

    Mariners Place Rowdy Tellez On Release Waivers

    Max Meyer To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

    Whit Merrifield Announces Retirement

    White Sox Sign Noah Syndergaard To Minor League Deal

    Corbin Carroll Placed On IL With Wrist Fracture

    Hoops Rumors Has The Latest On NBA Draft, Free Agency

    Mets Option Francisco Alvarez

    Reds To Promote Chase Burns For MLB Debut

    Recent

    Mets Trade Donovan Walton To Phillies

    Colin Poche Elects Free Agency

    Trey Mancini Opts Out Of D-Backs Deal

    Padres To Select Eduarniel Nunez

    Brewers’ Connor Thomas To Undergo Elbow Surgery

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Jorge Mateo To Miss 8 To 12 Weeks With Hamstring Strain

    Reds To Sign Buck Farmer To Minor League Deal

    Pirates Trade Hunter Stratton To Braves

    Rockies Designate Sam Hilliard For Assignment, Select Austin Nola

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version