In his three seasons as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Oli Marmol has led the team to just one playoff appearance—a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 NL Wild Card Series. Considering the team is built around stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, this level of underperformance is hard to overlook.
Not only have the Cardinals missed the playoffs in two of Marmol’s three seasons, but the past two campaigns fell well short of preseason expectations, with records of 71-91 in 2023 and 83-79 in 2024. As the team navigates a disappointing stretch, Marmol’s job security is already in question heading into 2025. Now, reports of interest in the managerial role from a Cardinals legend may have intensified the pressure on him.
Yadier Molina interested in managing the Cardinals
Yadier Molina is a name forever etched in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals and Major League Baseball. Over an extraordinary 19-season career as the Cardinals’ catcher, Molina earned countless accolades.
He is a 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, nine-time Gold Glove Award winner, and four-time Platinum Glove Award recipient. While Molina’s playing career was nothing short of legendary, his brother, Bengie Molina—a former MLB player himself—has revealed that Yadi is ready to embrace a new chapter in baseball.
While it’s true that former players don’t always succeed as managers, it’s hard to argue against Yadier Molina’s potential fit for the Cardinals’ managerial role. His decorated career and leadership as a player suggest that his skills could translate effectively to managing a big-league team.
Former catchers, in particular, often excel as managers due to their deep understanding of the game, as seen with Brad Ausmus and Stephen Vogt.
If the Cardinals fail to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season, don’t be surprised to see Yadier Molina back in a Cardinals uniform—this time on the top step of the dugout, leading the team as manager.
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