Cardinals Rumors: Skip Schumaker a candidate for managing positions

St. Louis Cardinals bench coach Skip Schumaker has been a welcomed addition this season, but should be a major candidate for managerial roles.

The St. Louis Cardinals made major changes to their coaching staff this season, promoting Oli Marmol to manager and bringing in former second baseman/outfielder Skip Schumaker to be the club’s bench coach. Both Marmol and Schumaker have been exceptional in their roles for St. Louis, and it’s only a matter of time before Schumaker finds himself leading a club of his own.

Schumaker played 11 seasons for St. Louis and other teams around the league before becoming the San Diego Padres 1st base coach in 2018. In 2020, Schumaker was promoted to Associate Manager and served in that role through the 2021 season. Over the last few years, the 42-year old has had his name floated in managerial conversations, so this is nothing new.

In Derrick Goold’s recent story, he quoted Schumaker as saying that despite his desire to be close to family in Southern California, he has loved his return to St. Louis and envisions himself remaining with the club beyond this season. Still, he will weigh any managerial opportunities as they come.

There will be plenty of opportunities this winter if Schumaker does decide to take on a managerial gig. Here are the options that would be most appealing to him.

No. 5 Philadelphia Phillies

After firing manager Joe Girardi midseason, the club promoted Rob Thomson to interim  manager, and the club turned things around for the majority of the season. But after going 11-14 so far in September and potentially missing out on the playoffs once again, they may be looking for a different leader next season.

Schumaker is the exact personality you would want leading a club like this. The Phillies are full of superstar level talent but continue to fall short of expectations, and need someone who can relate to players but also light a fire underneath of them when needed.

Unless Schumaker was confident that the club was primed to turn things around in 2023, it’s unlikely he would move to the East Coast to manage the club. Schumaker really values being close to his family, and has already said that if it wasn’t for St. Louis’ culture, he would have moved back.