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Redbird Rants

Evaluating the 4 strongest St. Louis Cardinals managerial candidates

By Russ Robinson

Mike Shildt (8) out of the game during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Shildt (8) out of the game during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks to the dugout against the Cleveland Indians during the fifth inning at Progressive Field on July 27, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks to the dugout against the Cleveland Indians during the fifth inning at Progressive Field on July 27, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /

Yadier Molina

Yadier Molina will one day be a coach and a manager somewhere. He’s highly respected among his peers, in the Cardinal clubhouse, and throughout baseball. But he won’t be a player-manager for the Cardinals in 2022, or maybe ever.

If president of baseball operations John Mozeliak did pick Molina to be the player-manager for the Cardinals, it would be one bold move. But Mozeliak has already made one bold move in October, he fired Mike Shildt. I don’t expect another bold move this soon.

Mozeliak is probably saving his next bold move for a free-agent signing or trade as we get deeper in the offseason. Historically, Mo just doesn’t make too many bold moves in one year.

Besides, promoting Molina to player-manager could create additional ‘philosophical differences’. He is a strong personality and would, in my opinion, challenge the front office more than they are comfortable with.

I just don’t think Molina would be a good fit for this organization as a manager.

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