The second half of the Cardinals’ season is off to a rough start — and the vibes are sinking fast. Making a lot of people wonder who will be the next Cardinals Manager.
After getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis now sits at 51–49, clinging to a record just two games above .500. They’ve slipped to fourth place in the NL Central, 3.5 games back in both the division and Wild Card races. There’s still time, sure — but that time is running out fast, and fans are growing restless.
Most of the heat is falling squarely on manager Oli Marmol.
Fair or not, when a team underperforms, the manager’s seat gets hotter. And with Marmol already under scrutiny for the team’s inconsistency and lack of urgency, this stretch hasn’t helped. But don’t expect a sudden change — at least, not before the season ends.
Why? Because John Mozeliak, the longtime president of baseball operations, is in his final months on the job. His successor, Chaim Bloom, takes over once the season wraps. It’s unlikely Mozeliak would make a major move like firing a manager and leave Bloom to deal with the fallout. Still, the writing may already be on the wall.
Once Bloom takes over, all bets are off. A new front office could leave Marmol in place and use him as a spare parachute if next season goes sideways and shove him straight under the bus. But more than likely, they will go with their guy as soon as they get the keys to the car. Which means, in all likelihood, Oliver Marmol is a lame duck manager.
This begs the question? If Bloom does decide to make a change… who gets the call?
Who will be the Next Cardinals Manager
Here are the names fans and insiders are already buzzing about:
Yadier Molina
He’s the fan-favorite option — no question. Molina is a Cardinals icon and has shown success managing Team Puerto Rico in the WBC and in the Winter League. He hasn’t coached in MLB yet, but the desire is there. The question isn’t whether fans would love it. They would. The question is whether Bloom sees Molina as a fit for the next Cardinals Manager. That is if Yadi could fit it in around his potential movie career.
Skip Schumaker
Another Cardinals favorite, ‘Skippy Shoes’ spent years as a gritty, clutch utility man in St. Louis and served as the team’s bench coach in 2022. He took over the Miami Marlins in 2023 but stepped away for family reasons before the end of 2024. Now working with the Texas Rangers as an advisor, Schumaker has gained new perspectives from multiple organizations. If he’s ready to return to managing, he’d be a strong option with the perfect blend of nostalgia and experience.
Stubby Clapp
Stubby’s been a fan favorite for years — both as a player and as the current first base coach. He led the Memphis Redbirds to back-to-back championships before joining the Cardinals’ staff and has long been considered a potential manager-in-waiting. He knows the organization, has respect in the clubhouse, and brings an old-school intensity with a modern touch.
Alex Cora
Here’s the wildcard. If Bloom wants to make a clean break and bring in someone from outside the Cardinals bubble, Cora could be the guy — if he’s available. The two worked together in Boston and know each other well. Cora has experience, a ring, and the credibility to shake things up. That said, he’s still with the Red Sox and not exactly an easy pull.
Albert Pujols
Let’s be honest — this one would light the fanbase on fire (in a good way). But it’s a long shot. Pujols has said he’s interested in managing someday, and he’s done well in the Winter League. But handing the reins to a first-time MLB manager in the middle of a transition might be a gamble Bloom’s not ready to take. If anything, expect Pujols to start in a coaching or minor league role first.
Manager to Be Named Later
Could the Cardinals pull a big name away from another club or bring someone out of retirement?
Does Tony La Russa have anything left in the tank? Just kidding… kinda.
Bottom line? The Cardinals are drifting — not sinking, but definitely not charging. The trade deadline could shake things up, but come October, the bigger question is who will be the next Cardinals Manager.
