Is John Mozeliak going to give Oli Marmol and contract extension before riding into the sunset?
The St. Louis Cardinals’ 2025 season has been nothing short of a roller coaster. They came out of the gates hot, piled up wins early, and looked like legitimate buyers at the trade deadline. Then came the slide — a slump so steep that the front office pivoted to selling, moving Phil Maton, Ryan Helsley, and Steven Matz in deals with the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox.
But the changes don’t stop on the field. When this season wraps, John Mozeliak will hand over the reins of president of baseball operations to Chaim Bloom, setting the stage for a new era in St. Louis. And with that transition looming, FanSided’s Curt Bishop believes one big move should happen right away: locking up manager Oli Marmol with a contract extension. Which is strange as usually a new front office will hire their own skipper.
Bishop argues that despite years of outside criticism — much of it dating back to his takeover after Mike Shildt’s controversial firing — Marmol has done a strong job with the roster he’s been given. His current deal runs through 2026. Although Bishop predicts Bloom will choose stability over change, rewarding Marmol’s steady hand rather than searching for a replacement.
Through all the ups and downs, Marmol has kept the trust of his clubhouse. His decision-making has evolved season after season. Even in a year that began with whispers of a rebuild, he kept St. Louis in the playoff hunt far longer than expected.
While the Cardinals’ talent level still isn’t quite at World Series caliber, Marmol has shown he can maximize the pieces he’s given. If Bloom can strengthen the roster this offseason, Marmol could be seen not as a manager on the hot seat, but as a legitimate Manager of the Year candidate.
Extending his contract could provide the stability the Cardinals need as they enter a crucial new chapter. One that blends Bloom’s fresh front office vision with Marmol’s proven leadership in the dugout.
