10 possible candidates for new Cardinals manager

The current first base coach is a former Cardinals player and well-liked among the fan base. Clapp’s name is probably the most mentioned as the leading candidate – if you believe Twitter rumors. He’s also received interest for managerial jobs with the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates over the past few offseasons.

Shildt was promoted from bench coach when manager Mike Matheny was fired mid-season in 2018, so maybe the same will take place this offseason. Marmol is also a former player in the Cardinals organization, but never made it higher than A ball. Interestingly, the Cardinals scout who signed him out of College of Charleston in 2007 was Shildt.

Manager is about the only position the ”Secret Weapon” hasn’t worked in for the Cardinals. He’s another candidate that’s beloved by the fan base. Oquendo was the third base coach for 16 years in St. Louis and is now the minor league infield coordinator. He changed roles after the 2018 season to make more of an impact with Cardinals minor leaguers in Florida.

Could Yadi be the first player/manager since Pete Rose led the Cincinnati Reds from 1984-1986? There may not be a better candidate with the combined “success” and “familiarity” as Mozeliak mentioned, than Molina's pair of World Series and more than two decades with the organization.

Last October, it was reported that Schumaker interviewed for multiple managerial openings. The current San Diego Padres associated manager (another name for bench coach), could make his return to St. Louis after spending a decade with the organization that drafted him in 2001 and where he won his only World Series (2011).

He's the under-the-radar candidate, but a MLB manager’s job would be right on track for his meteoric rise. He’s the former high school coach of Cardinal ace Jack Flaherty, was hired by the LA Angels as a minor league coach in 2013, won MiLB coach of the year in 2016 with the Seattle Mariners, was made minor league assistant pitching coordinator with the San Francisco Giants in 2019, then assistant pitching coach for the Giants in 2020. He’s now coaching Flaherty’s high school teammate Lucas Giolito as the Chicago White Sox pitching coach.

He’s only got a few hours worth of managerial experience, since he and the NY Mets parted ways quickly after he was hired in January 2020. It was revealed that he was involved and possible orchestrated the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal as a player in 2017. But maybe his success in St. Louis (All-Star in 2012 & 2013) and 20 years of MLB playing experience will outweigh the mistakes.

The Cardinals draft pick in 1992 played parts of nine seasons in the bigs with St. Louis, Mets, Royals and Astros. He’s currently the third base coach in his 11th season with the White Sox. He has managed for 10 games in place of Rick Renteria between 2017-20. He said managing would be his “dream job,” but also reportedly has had some mutual interest for the open Mets job.

In his 20 years of MLB managing experience he’s won a Manager of the Year award in 1994 (Yankees), 2004 (Rangers) and 2014 (Orioles) – which means he’ll win again in 2024 with a new team according to this trend. Earlier this week he told The Athletic that he’s “of course” considering managing again and hasn’t been away from the game much thanks to his studio analyst job with MLB Network.

The future Hall of Fame manager has a lot of experience beating the Cardinals in the playoffs (as he did in 2012 and 2014 en route to 2 of his 3 World Series with the Giants). He hasn’t coached since stepping down in 2019, but has been rumored to be a candidate for the Padres managerial job as well.