St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced on Friday that despite a disappointing season, manager Oli Marmol will remain in his position until 2024. This decision comes after the Cardinals’ poor performance and the likelihood of finishing last in the National League Central this year with a current record of 65-81, 17 games behind.
Marmol, who is 37 years old, had a successful season in 2022, leading the Cardinals to 93 wins and a division crown. However, this year has been a different story with the team on track for their first losing season since 2007 and potentially their first last-place finish since 1990.
Dayn Perry addressed Marmol’s situation earlier, noting that typical managerial changes happen when things go wrong, giving the front office more time to correct the course. However, Marmol’s close working relationship with Mozeliak makes his position different. Marmol was originally hired in 2022 for his collaboration with the front office in managing the team’s tactics and roster. Firing Marmol would reflect poorly on Mozeliak and the front office, potentially signaling more changes in the future.
Despite the controversies surrounding Marmol this season, such as benching outfielder Tyler O’Neill and calling him out publicly for a lack of hustle, as well as benching catcher Willson Contreras before later reinstating him, Marmol will have the opportunity to lead the team next season and work towards getting the Cardinals back on track.
