The St. Louis Cardinals have been unexpectedly competitive this season and are in the hunt for an NL Wild Card spot at the All-Star break. This strong performance, driven by the team’s young core, has surprised many experts. The team’s early success has even put manager Oli Marmol who faced calls for his firing last year in the conversation for NL Manager of the Year. In other words, Marmol’s job appears safe for now.
Still, speculation about possible successors continues, especially since Cardinals fans love the idea of franchise legends returning in leadership roles. Unlike stars like Albert Pujols or Yadier Molina, Marmol doesn’t have the same iconic status. Both Pujols and Molina have gained managerial experience elsewhere, including the World Baseball Classic and the Mexican Winter League, and have received positive feedback for their leadership.
Pujols has openly said he’d like to manage in the majors someday, explaining that he wants to help players develop and share his passion for the game. Molina and another former Cardinal, Skip Schumaker — who has managed the Marlins and now works with the White Sox — share similar ambitions.
Recently, another name entered the conversation: Matt Holliday. When Holliday’s son Ethan was drafted fourth overall by the Colorado Rockies, Matt was asked if he’d consider a coaching or front-office role with the Rockies to be near his son. Holliday said he’s open to being involved however the team wants.
Although Holliday would likely have to work his way up from a special assistant role, the struggling Rockies might be eager to try anything to get back on track. If he joins Colorado and his son performs well, Holliday’s influence there could grow. For Cardinals fans, though, this probably means Holliday won’t be an option to replace Marmol anytime soon, as he’d likely stay with Colorado if he enters coaching.
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