The St. Louis Cardinals were supposed to be rebuilding in 2025. Projected sellers. Veterans on the block. A season to reset, reload, and ride it out. But Oli Marmol had other plans, and it may just land him Manager of the Year.
Oli Marmol is the Runaway winner of Manager of the Year
Now, halfway through the season, the Cardinals are 45-38, tied for the final NL Wild Card spot, and right in the thick of the NL Central race — and MLB insider Bob Nightengale isn’t holding back.
“If the National League Manager of the Year vote were conducted today,” Nightengale wrote for USA Today, “Oli Marmol of the St. Louis Cardinals should be the runaway winner.”
That’s not just a hot take — it’s a strong case, as we’ve been saying for some time, that is after we said the exact opposite at the start of the season. I’m not ashamed to admit I blew that one!
Coming into the season, trade rumors swirled. The front office fielded calls on Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado, and other veteran leaders. A “soft sell” was on the table. Few expected St. Louis to stay relevant deep into the summer.
Oli Marmol Flipped the Narrative and the Club’s Record
The Cardinals haven’t just held their ground — they’ve won series, rallied through injury stretches, and played their way into potential buyers at the upcoming MLB trade deadline. That’s a massive turnaround from where this roster was expected to be.
Nightengale put it perfectly: “If the Cardinals were supposed to step back and rebuild this year, letting the Cubs run away from the pack… someone forgot to tell Marmol.”
Sure, 45-38 might not scream “division champion” — yet — but considering the expectations, the roster questions, and the internal reshuffling, what Marmol has pulled off is nothing short of remarkable. The Cardinals are not only relevant — they’re dangerous.
Cardinals are in the Hunt
The NL Wild Card race is crowded. The NL Central is no picnic. But this Cardinals team isn’t fading — it’s surging, and Marmol is right at the center of it.
Whether he takes home the trophy or not, the Manager of the Year conversation starts with Oli Marmol — and in 2025, he’s proving he’s one of baseball’s best.
