As the St. Louis Cardinals enter a transformative phase leading into the 2025 season, manager Oliver Marmol remains a consistent figure amid significant organizational changes. The team is initiating a “soft rebuild,” shifting the focus from immediate wins and losses to long-term development. Marmol’s performance will be assessed based on his ability to nurture young talent, cultivate a positive team culture, and adeptly manage the complexities of a rebuilding process.
This period of transition coincides with notable shifts in the Cardinals’ front office. John Mozeliak, who has led the baseball operations since 2007, is set to step down after the 2025 season. Chaim Bloom, formerly of the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, has been appointed to succeed Mozeliak as president of baseball operations, with a five-year contract commencing after the 2025 season. In the interim, Bloom will work alongside Mozeliak, focusing on revamping the team’s player development system.
These changes underscore the organization’s commitment to a strategic overhaul, emphasizing the development of homegrown talent and the modernization of its baseball operations. Marmol’s role in this transition is pivotal, as his leadership will be crucial in aligning the team’s on-field performance with the front office’s long-term vision.
Oliver Marmol’s Status Heading Into Next Season
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol signed a two-year extension ahead of the 2024 season, keeping him under contract through 2026. The organization has committed to beginning the 2025 season with Marmol at the helm, despite recent challenges.
Under Marmol’s leadership, the Cardinals have missed the postseason for two consecutive years, marking the team’s first such drought since a three-year absence from 2016 to 2018. During that period, then-manager Mike Matheny was fired midway through the 2018 season. Marmol, who guided the team to the playoffs in 2022 during his first season, has not returned to the postseason since.
Though his job appeared at risk in 2024, a strong midseason push kept the Cardinals in contention until the final month, easing some of the pressure. Marmol holds a .508 career managerial record, with two winning seasons out of three. As the Cardinals navigate a rebuilding phase, his ability to guide the team through this transition will be closely watched.
What The Organization is Looking For
The Cardinals have shifted their focus for the 2025 season toward developing young talent, with postseason expectations taking a backseat. Instead, manager Oliver Marmol’s success will be judged by how well the team’s prospects progress at the major league level.
“Our baseball decisions going forward will focus on developing our pipeline of players, giving our young core every opportunity to succeed at the major league level,” Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. stated during the team’s postseason press conference.
Marmol’s track record with prospect development has been inconsistent. While players like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman have shown signs of regression, others, such as Masyn Winn and Andre Pallante, enjoyed breakout performances in 2024.
The team’s success in 2025 will hinge on revitalizing struggling players, encouraging strong rookie performances—such as from Thomas Saggese—and integrating young pitchers into productive roles. Marmol’s ability to create an environment where these players can thrive will be critical to the organization’s rebuilding efforts.
Answering to a New Boss
The 2025 season will mark the end of John Mozeliak’s tenure as the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, a role he has held since 2007. Mozeliak’s legacy includes hiring current manager Oliver Marmol and controversially firing Mike Shildt, despite Shildt leading the team to the postseason in both of his full seasons. Marmol was given an extension heading into 2024 after the team finished last in the NL Central in 2023, with Mozeliak expressing confidence in the young manager.
Mozeliak stated he didn’t want a “lame-duck” manager going into 2024, but the Cardinals may face a similar situation with Marmol at the end of 2025. However, Mozeliak won’t be the one deciding Marmol’s future this time. That responsibility will fall to Chaim Bloom, who will take over as the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations following the 2025 season.
Bloom, a former executive with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox, spent 2024 as an advisor to Mozeliak, evaluating the organization. When his new role was announced, Bloom indicated he would assess every aspect of the team’s operations, including managerial performance.
If Bloom sees positive development from the Cardinals’ young core in 2025, Marmol could earn another extension. Alternatively, Bloom may choose to bring in his own manager as part of his broader vision for the team’s future. Marmol’s ability to foster player growth and adapt to the organization’s rebuilding focus will likely be pivotal in determining his fate.
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